Sleep Apnea, Daytime Sleepiness & Traffic Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates drowsy driving causes approximately 100,000 traffic accidents on our nation’s roads and highways each year, resulting in over 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 fatalities. For the almost 25 million people who suffer from sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness and mental fogginess result from a fragmented sleep cycle that makes driving dangerous for themselves and others on the road. Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea, is considered a significant independent risk factor for motor vehicle accidents, according to the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder caused by upper airway blockage and is characterized by recurrent episodes of reduced or near-complete absence of breathing during sleep. These frequent interruptions in the sleep cycle can result in daytime drowsiness, fatigue, and brain fog. They are also associated with a host of serious comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. A landmark 2018 study published in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Journal concluded that patients with untreated OSA have a higher risk of traffic accidents regardless of the severity of their disease.

Drivers with untreated obstructive sleep apnea are more at risk of falling asleep while driving. As a driver, you must constantly survey your environment and be able to make quick decisions on speed and lane position. However, sleep apnea robs you of the mental clarity needed to make quick decisions on the road, which can have life or death consequences. Perhaps what is even more concerning is that sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Most individuals who experience these symptoms are unaware of this cycle, even after they wake up. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 85 to 90 percent of those who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it. 

Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health studied the effects of drowsy driving on commercial truckers, a group with a high incidence of sleep apnea. Their findings concluded that truck drivers with obstructive sleep apnea who were not compliant with treatment had a rate of preventable crashes five times higher than drivers who did not have the disease. The positive news is that treatment is available and proven to help restore sleep quality.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is one of the most common treatments for sleep apnea and is considered the gold standard. It delivers pressurized air through a hose attached to a mask worn during sleep. The continuous airflow keeps the tongue and soft palate from relaxing and blocking the upper airway. While compliance rates for first-year use are relatively low, ranging from 30-60%, those who use CPAP regularly find that the resulting deep restorative sleep is enough incentive to continue with treatment. 

Through CPAP therapy, patients find that they can obtain quality sleep again without the previous daytime drowsiness and overall fatigue that hampered their ability to function, especially behind the wheel. Treating obstructive sleep apnea has proven to be literally and figuratively a lifesaver for those driving and others who share the road.

To learn more about how BetterNight can help you provide more effective and efficient care to at-risk sleep apnea patients, contact us.