Alhejaili Faris, Hafez Afnan, Wali Siraj, Alshumrani Ranya, Alzehairi Ahmed M, Balkhyour Mansour, Pandi-Perumal Seithikurippu R
Sleep Medicine Research Group, Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Pulmonary Medicine Consultant, Sleep Medicine Specialist, Researcher at Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Nat Sci Sleep. 2021 May 4;13:537-545. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S299382. eCollection 2021.
To evaluate the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), using home sleep testing in pilots and first officers in Saudi-based airlines. This will allow for proper diagnosis and management of OSA in that group which can help in minimizing any possible aviation accidents related to sleep disturbances secondary to OSA.
This is a cross-sectional study conducted through Saudi-based aviation among pilots and first officers who were in service, active, and flying short- to medium-haul flights. Forty-one participants met the inclusion criteria. However, 39 out of 41 completed the study questionnaires (Berlin questionnaire, Epworth sleepiness scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Fatigue severity scale (FSS), Visual analog fatigue scale (VAFS), and Patient health questionnaire (PHQ9), along with home sleep testing.
Sixty-nine percent of the study population had OSA by home sleep testing. Majority of which had mild OSA (64%) and 5% had moderate and severe OSA (2.5% each). Results of different questionnaires showed one-third of the participants had insomnia, 33.3% of the participants had severe fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness was found in 23.1% of the participants, and 10.3% had moderate depression, while 25.6% were classified as having mild depression symptoms.
Sleep apnea is prevalent among the studied Saudi-based airline pilots and first officers. Screening for workers of this high-risk occupation needs to be considered. Fatigue, depression, and insomnia can be secondary consequences of sleep apnea and should be assessed and treated early.
通过对沙特航空公司飞行员和副驾驶进行家庭睡眠测试，评估阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）的存在情况。这将有助于对该群体的OSA进行正确诊断和管理，从而有助于将因OSA继发的睡眠障碍导致的任何可能的航空事故降至最低。
这是一项横断面研究，在沙特的航空公司中对在职、活跃且执行短途至中程航班飞行任务的飞行员和副驾驶进行。41名参与者符合纳入标准。然而，41名中有39名完成了研究问卷（柏林问卷、爱泼华嗜睡量表、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PSQI）、疲劳严重程度量表（FSS）、视觉模拟疲劳量表（VAFS）和患者健康问卷（PHQ9）），并进行了家庭睡眠测试。
通过家庭睡眠测试，69%的研究人群患有OSA。其中大多数为轻度OSA（64%），5%为中度和重度OSA（各占2.5%）。不同问卷的结果显示，三分之一的参与者有失眠症状，33.3%的参与者有严重疲劳，23.1%的参与者有白天过度嗜睡，10.3%的参与者有中度抑郁，而25.6%被归类为有轻度抑郁症状。
睡眠呼吸暂停在沙特航空的飞行员和副驾驶中普遍存在。需要考虑对这一高风险职业的从业者进行筛查。疲劳、抑郁和失眠可能是睡眠呼吸暂停的继发后果，应尽早进行评估和治疗。
