Excessive daytime sleepiness in drivers of heavy vehicles

Nunes, Paulo; Carvalho, Lucinda S.A.; Pereira, Alexandre J.M.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/4386

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Authors

Nunes, Paulo

Carvalho, Lucinda S.A.

Pereira, Alexandre J.M.

Abstract(s)

Introduction: Excessive daytime sleepiness is an entity that has a negative impact on physical and cognitive performance, since it reduces the individual's ability to respond to stimuli. Professional drivers are undoubtedly a class exposed to this entity, endangering their life and others. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in drivers of heavy trucks and passenger vehicles, comparing it with accidents/near misses accidents and also to relate these variables with the type of vehicle. Methods: This study evaluated 148 drivers, of which 68 were drivers of heavy trucks vehicles, 58 of passenger vehicles and 22 of both types of trucks. Both Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a questionnaire to assess sleeping habits and driving habits were used. Results: The prevalence of sleepiness in drivers is 37,8 % and it was correlated with the total time in bed (r = -0.169, p = 0.040) and with the time of driving of heavy trucks (r = 0.151, p = 0.068). It was found that 14.2 % of accidents and 27.8 % of near misses accidents were due to sleepiness. Highly significant differences in sleepiness and near misses were found (p < 0.001). There was dependence between the type of vehicle and accidents (p = 0.046). Conclusion: In the group of evaluated drivers there is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, which leads to the significantly increasing risk of accidents/near misses accidents, as well as a higher incidence of accidents in truck drivers compared to drivers of passenger vehicles.