Narcolepsy and Traffic Accidents

Narcolepsia y Accidentalidad Vial

In Spain, as many as 30,000 people may have narcolepsy, many of them not yet diagnosed. This article assists primary care and specialist physicians to understand the role of the sleep unit and immunogenetic studies in the diagnosis of patients with narcolepsy. The authors note that although narcolepsy is not an uncommon illness and its diagnosis is obviously clinical, the further diagnostic workup at a special sleep unit is indicated. The negative impact of the illness on the socioeconomic environment is enormous, and influences both the social and interpersonal relationships of the patient. In addition, there is a negative repercussion in the workplace, due to a high risk of traffic and occupational accidents; these are, to a large extent, underestimated by the health services. According to an International Consensus Meeting on fatigue and risk accidents, between 15% and 30% of traffic accidents are due to falling asleep at the wheel. The authors conclude that it is a priority and obligation of sleep specialists to make the population aware of narcolepsy and the risks of sleep disorders and traffic accidents.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00920038
• Authors:
  • Adrados, R Peraita
  • Esteban, P Lopez
• Publication Date: 2002-6

Language

• Spanish

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 6p
• Serial:
  • Vigilia-Sueno
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: Suppl 1
  • Publisher: Fundacion Sueno-Vigilia
  • ISSN: 0092-0038

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Apnea; Automobile driving; Diagnosis; Diagnostic centers; Industrial accidents; Narcolepsy; Risk assessment; Sleep deprivation; Sleep disorders; Traffic crashes; Workplaces
• Uncontrolled Terms: Somnolence; Symptoms
• Geographic Terms: Spain
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01002977
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 23 2005 11:26AM