HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH FUND – HEALTH CARE AND PROMOTION FUND
36 Hong Kong Med J Vol 13 No 3 Supplement 3 June 2007
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong
Kong
DSC Hui
HCPF project number: 216023
Principal applicant and corresponding author:
Dr David SC Hui
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics,
Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong
Kong SAR, China
Tel: (852) 2632 2135
Fax: (852) 2648 9957
E-mail: dschui@cuhk.edu.hk
Evaluation of subjective sleepiness and
prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea
and sleep-disordered breathing in a
population of commercial drivers
Key Messages
1. Sleepiness at work was reported
by 61% of the bus drivers in this
study, with estimated minimum
prevalence rates of sleep-
disordered breathing (SDB)
and obstructive sleep apnoea
syndrome (OSAS) of 8% and
5%, respectively.
2. Body mass
index, neck
circumference, and snoring
intensity are the positive
independent predictors of
respiratory disturbance index
values, whereas neither self-
reported nor subjective sleepi-
ness identified SDB. Bus
drivers who snore loudly during
sleep (especially those over-
weight) are strongly advised
to seek medical attention for
investigation and treatment of
OSAS.
3. Home continuous positive
airway pressure acceptance is
low, but there was significant
improvement of subjective
sleepiness
and
cognitive
function among bus drivers
who did take up such treatment.
4. To improve road safety, health
education and promotion are
urgently needed to increase
awareness of OSAS among
medical professionals, legis-
lators,
licensing authorities,
drivers, and the public.
Hong Kong Med J 2007;13(Suppl 3):S36-9
Introduction
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common form of sleep-disordered
breathing (SDB) characterised by repetitive episodes of partial or complete upper
airway obstruction causing sleep fragmentation, disabling daytime sleep