Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, and Road Traffic Accidents Among Nigerian...

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are recognized contributors to road traffic accidents (RTAs). However, the association between OSA, EDS, and RTAs remains underexplored among Nigerian truck drivers.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 306 adult male long-distance truck drivers in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The Berlin Questionnaire was used to assess the risk of OSA while the Epworth Sleepiness Scale evaluated excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and self-reported previous RTAs were adapted in the questionnaire.

The mean age (SD) of the truck drivers was 42.3±9.1 years. The prevalence of snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and dozing off while driving among the participants was 57%, 46.7% and 21% respectively. Overall, 43.5% of truck drivers were identified as having high risk for OSA. The risk factors associated with OSA were advanced age (50 years and above), self-reported systemic hypertension, obesity and increased neck circumference. In the three years preceding the study, approximately one-third of truck drivers reported being involved in RTAs which was associated with the use of stimulants aOR 11.63(95%CI 3.73 to 36.24, p=0.001), sleeping pills aOR 5.26(95%CI 1.50 to 18.40, p=0.001), high OSA risk aOR 2.21 (95%CI 1.60 to 4.80, p=0.03), EDS aOR 2.75(1.60 to 4.80, p=0.001) and extended working hours aOR 1.02(95%CI 1.00 to 1.04, p=0.03). More than 90% of the drivers were unaware that EDS constitutes a medical concern.

The high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness, and obstructive sleep apnoea among truck drivers highlights the underrecognized contributors to road traffic accidents. This underscores the need for targeted sleep disordered screening and regulatory interventions by policymakers to improve road safety in Nigeria.