Department of Computer Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
J Clin Sleep Med. 2011 Jun 15;7(3):241-5. doi: 10.5664/JCSM.1060.
Commercial motor vehicle drivers are at an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Review Board has recommended that commercial motor vehicle drivers undergo testing for OSA if they have a positive Berlin Questionnaire or a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2). We developed an online screening tool based on the Berlin Questionnaire for anonymous use by commercial drivers to assess their risk of OSA prior to their required FMCSA physicals.
We based the survey on the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire. The survey was hosted on the Truckers for a Cause Chapter of Alert Well and Keeping Energetic of the American Sleep Apnea Association (TFAC-AWAKE) organization website, and was promoted through the TFAC's XM radio, word of mouth, and trucking industry press contacts.
A total of 595 individuals completed the survey. Of these, 55.9% were positive on the Berlin, 78.3% had either hypertension or obesity, 69.6% were obese, 47.6% had a BMI > 33 kg/m(2), and 20.5% reported falling asleep at stoplights.
Some commercial drivers willingly assess their OSA risk anonymously online, and a majority of those who do so are obese, have positive Berlin screening questionnaires, and would be required to undergo polysomnography if recommendations made to the FMCSA became regulation. In contrast to reported behavior during actual Commercial Driver Medical Examinations physicals, some commercial drivers will report OSA symptoms if it is "safe" to do so. Sleep health professionals need expedient, non-punitive methods to keep commercial motor vehicle drivers healthy and driving and to raise drivers' awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and unhealthy lifestyles.
商业机动车驾驶员患阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）的风险增加。联邦汽车运输安全管理局（FMCSA）医学审查委员会建议，如果商业机动车驾驶员的柏林问卷呈阳性或 BMI≥30kg/m(2)，则应对其进行 OSA 检测。我们开发了一种基于柏林问卷的在线筛查工具，供商业驾驶员匿名使用，以在他们进行所需的 FMCSA 体检之前评估他们患 OSA 的风险。
我们的调查基于柏林睡眠问卷。该调查由 Alert Well and Keeping Energetic of the American Sleep Apnea Association（TFAC-AWAKE）组织的 Truckers for a Cause Chapter 主持，并通过 TFAC 的 XM 广播、口碑和卡车运输行业的新闻联系人进行推广。
共有 595 人完成了调查。其中，55.9%的人柏林问卷呈阳性，78.3%的人患有高血压或肥胖症，69.6%的人肥胖，47.6%的人 BMI>33kg/m(2)，20.5%的人报告在交通信号灯前入睡。
一些商业驾驶员愿意在网上匿名评估他们的 OSA 风险，而且大多数这样做的人都肥胖，柏林筛查问卷呈阳性，如果向 FMCSA 提出的建议成为法规，他们将需要进行多导睡眠图检查。与实际商业驾驶人体检期间的报告行为相反，如果这样做是“安全的”，一些商业驾驶员会报告 OSA 症状。睡眠健康专业人员需要快速、非惩罚性的方法来保持商业机动车驾驶员的健康和驾驶，并提高驾驶员对疲劳驾驶和不健康生活方式的危害的认识。
