Nearly 1,000 deaths from vehicle collisions could be avoided each year in the U.S. if all drivers with the obstructive sleep apnea received a standard treatment, according to researchers.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea, a disorder marked by repeated stops and starts in a person’s breathing during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. These breathing disruptions make for poor-quality sleep and daytime symptoms such as drowsiness, concentration problems and dulled reaction times - potential hazards on the road.

The new study suggests that of an estimated 1,400 traffic deaths related to obstructive sleep apnea in 2000, 980 could have been prevented if all the drivers had been treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

The estimates, based on data from the National Safety Council and published medical studies, also indicate such treatment could save Americans $11 billion a year in collision costs.

Dr. Alex Sassani of the University of California San Diego and his colleagues report the findings in the journal Sleep.

In obstructive sleep apnea, tissues in the throat temporarily collapse during sleep, hindering airflow. CPAP devices deliver air, via a facemask, into the airways to keep them open. It’s a common treatment for sleep apnea, but many people with the disorder go undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated.

One reason is that it’s a “silent” disorder that many people simply aren’t aware they have, Sassani told Reuters Health. In addition, he said, most primary care doctors do not screen people with risk factors - such as being older than 40 and overweight - because “it’s not drilled into their heads” to do so.

Sassani and his colleagues estimate that more than 800,000 drivers were involved in vehicle crashes related to obstructive sleep apnea in 2000, at a cost of nearly $16 billion and 1,400 lives. They say the numbers represent a “small but significant” portion of the road collisions and deaths that occurred in the U.S. that year.

As an example of sleep apnea’s potential impact on the road, Sassani noted that one recent study of commercial truck drivers found that 28 percent had the condition.

Because the breathing difficulties occur during sleep, a person can easily be unaware of having it. According to Sassani, some potential indications of sleep apnea include daytime drowsiness and snoring - although neither of these are necessarily related to the condition.

In addition, he said, people who have diabetes or high blood pressure are at greater risk of having sleep apnea. Research suggests that sleep apnea helps promote these conditions.

The study received funding from the medical-device company ResMed Corporation, which makes CPAP devices. Other treatment options for sleep apnea include dental devices, surgery and, when appropriate, weight loss.

SOURCE: Sleep, May 2004.