Abstract

REY DE CASTRO MUJICA, Jorge. Accidentes de tránsito en carreteras e hipersomnia durante la conducción. ¿es frecuente en nuestro medio? la evidencia periodística. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2003, vol.14, n.2, pp.69-73. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To determine the sleepiness during driving and road traficc accidents relationship, according journal reports. Material and methods:: We reviewed news information related to road traffic accidents that were published in "El Comercio" daily journal between 1999-2000. Results:: During two years 73 articles and 112 traffic accidents were reported by journalists. Fifty-three (48 %) road traffic accidents could be related to sleepiness during driving. Accidents produced 385 dead passengers and 839 injuries according to the journal information. The "mortality rate" was 9.7 and "morbidity rate" 20.6 in road traffic accidents related to sleepiness in bus drivers. Conclusion:: The information suggest that hipersomnia during driving could produce accidents on the road with an unknown prevalence and high morbidity and mortality. It’s necessary to conduct new studies related to this topic. ( Rev Med Hered 2003; 14:69-73 ).

Keywords : Traffic accidents; alertness; sleepiness; drowsy drivers; sleep apnea.

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