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Practice Guideline
. 2017 May 15;13(5):745-758.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6598.

Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators: Recommendations of the AASM Sleep and Transportation Safety Awareness Task Force

Indira Gurubhagavatula  1   2 , Shannon Sullivan  3 , Amy Meoli  4 , Susheel Patil  5 , Ryan Olson  6 , Michael Berneking  7 , Nathaniel F Watson  8
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators: Recommendations of the AASM Sleep and Transportation Safety Awareness Task Force

Indira Gurubhagavatula et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Sleep and Transportation Safety Awareness Task Force responded to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and request for public comments regarding the evaluation of safety-sensitive personnel for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The following document represents this response. The most salient points provided in our comments are that (1) moderate-to-severe OSA is common among commercial motor vehicle operators (CMVOs) and contributes to an increased risk of crashes; (2) objective screening methods are available and preferred for identifying at-risk drivers, with the most commonly used indicator being body mass index; (3) treatment in the form of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective and reduces crashes; (4) CPAP is economically viable; (5) guidelines are available to assist medical examiners in determining whether CMVOs with moderate-to-severe OSA should continue to work without restrictions, with conditional certification, or be disqualified from operating commercial motor vehicles.

Keywords: OSA; motor vehicle operators; obstructive sleep apnea; oral appliance therapy; transportation safety.

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