Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Long-Haul Commercial Truck Drivers: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study investigates obstructive sleep apnea prevalence and occupational risk factors in long-haul commercial truck drivers within the context of occupational medicine and sleep epidemiology, an area of growing scientific importance given its implications for commercial driver medical certification standards and FMCSA sleep apnea screening policy development. Using level 3 home sleep apnea testing with overnight oximetry and proprietary ApneaLink device, validated against in-lab polysomnography in a 20% subsample, we examine obesity and sleep deprivation-related upper airway collapsibility producing recurrent nocturnal hypoxia in 412 commercially licensed long-haul truck drivers recruited from three major interstate truck stops drawn from interstate truck stop recruitment sites in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. Results indicate that obstructive sleep apnea (AHI >= 15 events/h) was confirmed in 54.4% of participants using objective testing, significantly exceeding general population prevalence, with BMI, neck circumference, and irregular shift schedule as independent predictors (p < 0.001), with 54.4% as the primary quantitative benchmark. Concordance between primary and confirmatory measurement approaches exceeded 93%, validating the analytical framework. These findings contribute empirically to occupational medicine and sleep epidemiology and carry actionable implications for the design of programs and policies targeting commercial driver medical certification standards and FMCSA sleep apnea screening policy development.