Early morning work--prevalence and relation to sleep/wake problems: a national representative survey.

Very little is known about the prevalence of morning work and its relationship with sleep and fatigue. The present study obtained data from a representative sample of the Swedish population (N = 5489) to address this limitation in the literature. The results show that 15% of the population commenced work, at least occasionally, before 05:30 h and approximately 2% did so most of the time.

Disturbed sleep and fatigue as predictors of return from long-term sickness absence.

Long-term sickness absence has doubled in Sweden, as has complaints of disturbed sleep. The present study sought to investigate the prospective link between long-term sickness absence and disturbed sleep or fatigue. Sleep and fatigue from a representative national sample was followed up 1.

Predicting long-term sickness absence from sleep and fatigue.

Disturbed or shortened sleep is prospectively related to disease. One might also expect that sickness absence would be another consequence but very little data seem to exist. The present study used 8300 individuals in a national sample to obtain information on reports of disturbed sleep and fatigue one [corrected] year and merged this with data on long-term sickness absence two [corrected] years later.

Positive health-care effects of an alcohol ignition interlock programme among driving while impaired (DWI) offenders.

Aims: To compare the costs of hospital care and sick leave/disability pensions between two groups of driving while impaired (DWI) offenders: participants in an alcohol ignition interlock programme (AIIP) and controls with revoked licences, but with no comparable opportunity to participate in an AIIP.

Setting: As an alternative to licence revocation DWI offenders can participate in a voluntary 2-year AIIP permitting the offender to drive under strict regulations entailing regular medical check-ups. The participants are forced to alter their alcohol habits and those who cannot demonstrate sobriety are dismissed from the programme.

A Swedish alcohol ignition interlock programme for drink-drivers: effects on hospital care utilization and sick leave.

Aims: This project evaluates health outcomes following an alcohol ignition interlock programme (AIIP) by assessing hospital care utilization and sick-leave register data relative to controls with revoked licences, but with no comparable opportunity to participate in an AIIP.

Setting: In Sweden, driving while impaired (DWI) offenders can now select voluntarily a 2-year AIIP in lieu of 12 months' licence revocation. The AIIP includes regular medical check-ups designed to alter alcohol use.