[Respiratory sleep disorders in vehicle drivers]

To determine the frequency of respiratory sleep disorders (RSD) in vehicle drivers, peculiarities of their clinical status and workability.

The study included the main group of 106 vehicle drivers (VD) and control group of 104 of subjects of other professions. The following methods were used: fibrooptic endoscopy, standard questionnaire, pulsoxymetry, 24 hour blood pressure and ECG monitoring, psychophysiological testing of 86 VD with RSD, arterial hypertension with and without complications.

The clinical and instrumental signs of RSD were found in 65.1% VD of the main group and 47,1% of controls. Transitory ischemic attacks, cardiac arrhythmias and their combination occurred more frequently in VD (82.6, 59.2, and 52.2% respectively) than in controls (51.0, 44.8, and 32.6%). In most observations of VD, the smoking rate (98.1%), alcohol intake (95.3%), increased body mass (74.5%), obese (21,7%) dyslypoproteidemia (73.6%), left ventricular hypertrophy (54.7%) and arterial hypertension (57.5%) were significantly higher than in controls : S (76.9%), AI (75.0%), IBM (56.7%), O (18.3%), DLP (59.6%), LVH (41.3%), AH (39.4%). Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases was diagnosed in 55.6% of VD and 51.9% of controls, diabetes mellitus in 34.9% and 20.2%, epidemiological forms of ischemic heart disease in 22.6% VD and 20.2% controls. Psychophysilogical testing of VD group revealed deterioration of professional qualities and functions of the drivers with respiratory sleep disorders.

Significant frequency of RSD among VD (65.1%) in comparison with subjects of other professions (47.1%) was documented. RSD cause deterioration ofprofessional abilities of VD which increases the risk of traffic accidents.