PREVALENCE OF SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING AND EXCESSIVE DAY TIME SLEEPINESS AMONG HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVERS IN TRIVANDRUM, SOUTH INDIAN CITY: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

International classification of sleep disorders lists more than 80 types of sleep disorders. Epidemiologic studies from different parts of India have uncovered the high prevalence of undiagnosed sleep disorders, especially sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Undiagnosed SDB is increasingly being recognized as a causative factor associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of concentration leading to poor occupational efficiency and increasing risk of motor vehicle accidents. Currently, there are limited published data on the prevalence of sleep disorders in Indian commercial drivers here the number of road accidents are on the rise. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to understand the sleep patterns and sleep-related complaints of heavy vehicle drivers in Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, Southern most state of India and its relation to road traffic accidents(RTA).In our study, we noted a significant number of drivers with SDB and excessive day time sleepiness. The drivers who met with RTA had a positive correlation with higher BMI, high Epworth Sleepiness score, snoring and SDB.