Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement.

Unlabelled: The period of the year from spring to fall, when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time, is called daylight saving time, and its beginning and ending dates and times are set by federal law. The human biological clock is regulated by the timing of light and darkness, which then dictates sleep and wake rhythms. In daily life, the timing of exposure to light is generally linked to the social clock.

"Count on Sleep": an OSA awareness project update.

Unlabelled: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, chronic sleep-related breathing disorder that affects approximately 12% of the US adult population. Greater public awareness of OSA is necessary to decrease the number of people with undiagnosed or untreated OSA and reduce the negative health consequences of unrecognized OSA. In 2021, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine initiated the "Count on Sleep" project in partnership with key stakeholders with the objective of raising the awareness of OSA among the public, health care providers, and public health officials.

Assessment of Vigilance and Fatigue.

This article summarizes the definitions of vigilance, fatigue, and sleepiness, as well as tools used in their assessment. Consideration is given to the strengths and limitations of the different subjective and objective tools. Future directions for research are also discussed, as well as the public health importance of continued investigation in this subject.

Sleep Assessment in Long COVID Clinics: A Necessary Tool for Effective Management.

As we adapt to SARS-CoV-2, it has become apparent that the acute illness is not the only threat from this virus. Long COVID has emerged as a potentially disabling condition with multiple varied symptoms. We propose that querying patients about their sleep may allow for the assessment of a sleep-related disorder that is amenable to treatment.

International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background: Evaluation and interpretation of the literature on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) allows for consolidation and determination of the key factors important for clinical management of the adult OSA patient. Toward this goal, an international collaborative of multidisciplinary experts in sleep apnea evaluation and treatment have produced the International Consensus statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (ICS:OSA).

Methods: Using previously defined methodology, focal topics in OSA were assigned as literature review (LR), evidence-based review (EBR), or evidence-based review with recommendations (EBR-R) formats.

The COVID-19 pandemic and sleep medicine: a look back and a look ahead.

Unlabelled: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a reminder that global infectious disease outbreaks are not new and they have the potential to cause catastrophic morbidity and mortality, disrupt health care delivery, demand critical decision making in the absence of scientific certainty, interrupt trainee education, inflict economic damage, and cause a spike in demand for health care services that exceeds societal capacity. In this article, we look back at how the sleep medicine community adapted to challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate viral transmission perhaps the single most effective and efficient adaptation was the rapid adoption of telemedicine.

Guiding principles for determining work shift duration and addressing the effects of work shift duration on performance, safety, and health: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

Risks associated with fatigue that accumulates during work shifts have historically been managed through working time arrangements that specify fixed maximum durations of work shifts and minimum durations of time off. By themselves, such arrangements are not sufficient to curb risks to performance, safety, and health caused by misalignment between work schedules and the biological regulation of waking alertness and sleep. Science-based approaches for determining shift duration and mitigating associated risks, while addressing operational needs, require: (1) a recognition of the factors contributing to fatigue and fatigue-related risks; (2) an understanding of evidence-based countermeasures that may reduce fatigue and/or fatigue-related risks; and (3) an informed approach to selecting workplace-specific strategies for managing work hours.

Obstructive sleep apnea screening, diagnosis, and treatment in the transportation industry.

Unlabelled: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, identifiable, and treatable disorder with serious health, safety, and financial implications-including sleepiness- related crashes and incidents-in workers who perform safety-sensitive functions in the transportation industry. Up to one-third of crashes of large trucks are attributable to sleepiness, and large truck crashes result in more than 4,000 deaths annually. For each occupant of a truck who is killed, 6 to 7 occupants of other vehicles are killed.

Enhancing public health and safety by diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea in the transportation industry: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement.

Unlabelled: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may lead to serious health, safety, and financial implications-including sleepiness-related crashes and incidents-in workers who perform safety-sensitive functions in the transportation industry. Evidence and expert consensus support its identification and treatment in high-risk commercial operators. An Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the diagnosis and treatment of OSA in commercial truck and rail operators was issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration, but it was later withdrawn.

Sleep Medicine Health-Care Worker Concerns About COVID-19: An Early Pandemic Survey.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has produced numerous safety concerns for sleep medicine patients and health-care workers, especially related to the use of aerosol-generating positive airway pressure devices. Differences between physician and sleep technologist concerns with regard to viral exposure and mitigation strategies may inform protocols to ensure safety and promote patient and health-care worker resilience and retention.

Methods: An anonymous online survey aimed at sleep medicine practitioners was active from April 29, 2020 to May 8, 2020.

Guiding principles for determining work shift duration and addressing the effects of work shift duration on performance, safety, and health: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

Risks associated with fatigue that accumulates during work shifts have historically been managed through working time arrangements that specify fixed maximum durations of work shifts and minimum durations of time off. By themselves, such arrangements are not sufficient to curb risks to performance, safety, and health caused by misalignment between work schedules and the biological regulation of waking alertness and sleep. Science-based approaches for determining shift duration and mitigating associated risks, while addressing operational needs, require: (1) a recognition of the factors contributing to fatigue and fatigue-related risks; (2) an understanding of evidence-based countermeasures that may reduce fatigue and/or fatigue-related risks; and (3) an informed approach to selecting workplace-specific strategies for managing work hours.

Opportunities and unknowns in adapting pediatric sleep practices to a pandemic world.

Sullivan S, Anastasi M, Beam E, et al. Opportunities and unknowns in adapting pediatric sleep practices to a pandemic world. .

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep medicine practices.

Study Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic required sleep centers to consider and implement infection control strategies to mitigate viral transmission to patients and staff. Our aim was to assess measures taken by sleep centers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and plans surrounding reinstatement of sleep services.

Methods: We distributed an anonymous online survey to health care providers in sleep medicine on April 29, 2020.

Daylight saving time: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement.

The last several years have seen intense debate about the issue of transitioning between standard and daylight saving time. In the United States, the annual advance to daylight saving time in spring, and fall back to standard time in autumn, is required by law (although some exceptions are allowed under the statute). An abundance of accumulated evidence indicates that the acute transition from standard time to daylight saving time incurs significant public health and safety risks, including increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, mood disorders, and motor vehicle crashes.

Exhaled air dispersion and use of oronasal masks with continuous positive airway pressure during COVID-19.

https://bit.ly/39cC4m8

OSA in Professional Transport Operations: Safety, Regulatory, and Economic Impact.

OSA is common among commercial vehicle operators (CVOs) in all modes of transportation, including truck, bus, air, rail, and maritime operations. OSA is highly prevalent and increases the risk of drowsiness-related crashes in CVOs. Internationally, specific regulations regarding its identification and management vary widely or do not exist; medical examiners and sleep medicine specialists are urged to use available guidance documents in their absence.

Sleep, fatigue and burnout among physicians: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement.

Physician burnout is a serious and growing threat to the medical profession and may undermine efforts to maintain a sufficient physician workforce to care for the growing and aging patient population in the United States. Burnout involves a host of complex underlying associations and potential for risk. While prevalence is unknown, recent estimates of physician burnout are quite high, approaching 50% or more, with midcareer physicians at highest risk.

What is the role of sleep in physician burnout?

The occurrence of physician burnout is widespread among clinicians and academic faculty, who report indicators such as low quality of life and poor work-life balance. Chronic insufficient sleep, whether due to extended work hours, circadian misalignment, or unrecognized sleep disorders, is a critically important risk factor for burnout that is overlooked and under-studied, and interventions to promote healthy sleep may reduce burnout susceptibility among attending physicians. While strategies to reduce burnout among resident and attending physicians have been under-evaluated, evidence suggests a need to address burnout at both individual and organizational levels.

Screening for Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Commercial Drivers.

Sleep disorders in commercial drivers are common and treatable. Left unidentified, they lead to a host of adverse consequences, including daytime sleepiness, adverse health effects, economic costs, and public safety risks owing to sleepiness-related crashes. The best studied of these is obstructive sleep apnea, which is common and identifiable among commercial drivers.