Treating sleep disorders would reduce risk of serious motor vehicle crashes

Reduction in motor vehicle collisions following treatment of sleep apnoea with nasal CPAP 2001; 56: 508-512

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Sleep related accidents comprise 15-20% of all motor vehicle crashes, resulting in thousands of serious injuries and death. Yet a study published in Thorax confirms that treatment of patients with sleep apnoea would reduce their risk of serious motor vehicle crashes to a rate similar to the general driving population.

Over 200 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for at least 3 years. An equal number of randomly selected control drivers were also identified. Using official driving records, motor vehicle collision rates were then compared for 3 years before and after CPAP therapy for both patients and the control drivers.

Untreated patients with OSA had more motor vehicle collisions than controls. Following CPAP treatment, the number of collisions per driver per year fell to normal while, in controls, the collision rate was unchanged over time. The collision rate in untreated patients remained high over time.

Patients with untreated sleep apnoea have increased motor vehicle crashes, but this rate decreases to normal once patients are treated with CPAP, conclude the authors. Such results should be of great value to practising physicians who must make assessments about ability to drive as any restrictions on driving because of OSA could be safely removed after treatment, they add.

Contact:

Charles F P George, University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre, Ontario, Canada

Tel: 1-519-667-6860
cgeorge@uwo.ca