Discover how the silent epidemic of obstructive sleep apnea is impacting the unsung heroes of healthcare, as we delve into eye-opening research findings from Italy’s frontline medical staff.
– by James
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Risk of obstructive sleep apnea among health workers: results of a screening in a large Italian University Hospital.
Spiteri et al., Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2023
DOI: 10.1007/s00420-023-02029-9
Study Highlights:
- The study focused on assessing the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among health workers (HW) at the University Hospital of Verona.
- A screening program using the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) was implemented via email, with a 31.1% response rate from the 5031 HW.
- Results indicated that 72.7% of respondents were at low risk, 13.7% at moderate risk, and 13.6% at high risk for OSA.
- Factors such as male gender, older age, and higher BMI were significant predictors of high rOSA.
- Physicians were least likely to be at high risk.
- Of the high-risk group, 64 underwent polygraphy, revealing a 68.8% positive predictive value for the SBQ, which increased to 96.9% when administered by medical staff.
Importance:
This research is important as it highlights the prevalence of OSA risk among health workers and demonstrates the effectiveness of the SBQ as a screening tool. Early detection and treatment of OSA can potentially reduce its adverse health impacts.
Contribution to Literature:
The study contributes to the literature by providing data on OSA risk in a specific and important workforce, suggesting that systematic OSA screening in the workplace could be beneficial.