Coinciding with the news
that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking to
adopt new sleep apnea recommendations for drivers of tractor-trailers and other
commercial vehicles is a study from Australian researchers that indicates 41
percent of truck drivers suffer from obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA).
In February, the FMCSA
received proposals from two advisory bodies for updating its regulations
regarding drivers who suffer from sleep apnea. One of the recommendations is
using a body mass index of 35 or higher along with an apnea hypopnea index of
20 or greater (which includes a range from moderate to severe sleep apnea) as the
catalyst for sleep apnea testing and treatment.
The proposal from one
of the FMCSA’s medical advisory panels called for treatment with a continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, but not the use of dental sleep
medicine, which includes custom oral appliances. While CPAP can be an
effective treatment for sleep apnea, many patients discontinue its use because
the devices are cumbersome and require wearing a mask while sleeping.
Although oral appliances
have proven effective in treating many instances of sleep apnea and have a
higher rate of continued use among patients, they were not included in the
recommendations of the advisory panels. The FMCSA is currently reviewing the
proposed changes.
Meanwhile, an
Australian study of more than 500 long-distance semi-truck drivers found that
41 percent suffered from OSA. Only about 4 percent, however, reported that they
had been diagnosed with a sleep disorder prior to the study.
The study, the results
of which were published in the April issue of the journal Sleep, also found that significant numbers of truckers shared
traits indicating a high risk for sleep apnea. Researchers found that 49
percent of truck drivers in the study smoke cigarettes, 36 percent are
overweight and 50 percent are obese.