Abstract:
Obstructive sleep apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a common disease associated
with daytime sleepiness. OSAS is characterized by instability of the upper
airway during sleep, which results in markedly reduced (hypopnea) or
absence of (apnea) airflow at the nose and or mouth with accompanying de-saturation of oxy-hemoglobin. The objective of this study is to investigate
the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) risk among
public transport bus drivers in Jaffna district Sri Lanka. Descriptive cross
sectional study was done among public transport bus drivers (n=267) of both
state and private sector. Stratified random sampling method was used.
Interviewer-administered questionnaire and a check list were used to collect
data in a survey. The prevalence of OSAS risk was estimated using the
Berlin questionnaire. Mean age of study participants was 40.2 years and
mean BMI was 24.8. The prevalence of Obstructive sleep apnea risk was
11.6% and the prevalence of self-reported snoring was 28.5%. Percentage
reported cases of falling asleep while driving was 24.7% among drivers. The
following variables were found to be in significant association with OSAS in
chi-square test: Smoking (40.4%, p=0.034), alcoholism (38.2%, p=0.010)
and obesity measures like neck circumference (4.5%, p<0.0001) and waist
circumference (36.7%, p=0.031). The risk of OSAS had statistically
significant positive correlation with systolic blood pressure (r=0.5, p<0.001)
and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.416, p<0.001). Age of the drivers and betel
chewing were not statistically significant associated with OSAS risk. The
results conclude that 11.6% of the public driver population is at high risk for
OSAS and day time sleepiness. So the relevant authorities have to consider
this and it need further community based studies.
