[Respiratory sleep disorders in vehicle drivers].

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

Material And Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.