Abstract
Introduction
Untreated OSAS is associated with increased likelihood of being involved in road traffic accidents. We have previously shown that controls perform better on the MiniUoLDS than OSAS patients. Evaluating the fail category, we hypothesised that higher speed and age may be contributing factors both in controls and OSAS patients.
Methods
154 (Age 53 +/- 12, ESS 14+/-7, ODI 40+/- 26) untreated OSAS patients and 110 controls (Age 55+/-15, ESS 4+/- 3) were included. All performed a 90km motorway driving simulation, which included 8 epochs. The mean speed during the simulation and the age of the subjects were compared between the two groups. The MiniUoLDS outcomes fail or no fail was based on preset criteria.
Results
Controls who failed the MiniUoLDS had a significantly higher mean speed as compared to other groups. A hierarchical pattern in the mean speed was noted between controls and patients.
Despite driving at a slower speed, some OSAS patients failed the MiniUoLDS. The outcome on the MiniUoLDS was not age dependent between OSAS patients and controls.
Conclusion
Higher speed may be a possible contributing factor in controls but not in OSAS patients who failed the MiniUoLDS. The outcome on the MiniUoLDS is not age dependent both in OSAS patients and controls. These factors should be considered when developing a driving simulator in the future.
- © 2014 ERS