Prevalence of sleepiness in a group of Brazilian lorry drivers

Objective: To determine the prevalence of sleepiness in a group of Brazilian lorry drivers. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study used a self-administrated questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The questionnaire included questions regarding demographic features, professional data, steep habits, night-time symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness and history of previous automobile accidents. Results: Four hundred and thirty-eight male drivers, aged 34.2 +/- 9.5 years (mean +/- SD), were included in the study. The mean number of hours spent driving each day was 9.2 +/- 2.6 h, compared with 4.5 +/- 2.3 h for the night shift. The median distance covered weekly was 1200 km (range 70-6000 km). The most common steep complaints were insomnia (26.6%), loud snoring (45%) and witnessed apnoea (7.6%). Eighty-six of 392 (22%) drivers reported falling asleep while driving, and 11 (2.8%) subjects indicated falling asleep daily or almost daily. One hundred and seventy-one drivers (39%) had been involved in a traffic accident, and 21 of 128 drivers (16.4%) indicated sleepiness as a possible contributing factor. The ESS was higher than 10 points in 120 (28%) of the interviewees. Conclusions: Sleepiness is a prevailing symptom in lorry drivers and is probably related to accidents. (c) 2005 The Royal Institute of Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.