Worthless Epworth and Don’t Go to Berlin Either to Screen Drivers for Sleep Apnea

You should be screening all your DOT examinees for sleep apnea.  The DOT exam form of course contains only one question regarding sleep disorders, and how many times have you had a driver check “Yes?

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Two common screening tools used in general practice are the Epworth sleepiness scale and the Berlin questionnaire.  Commercial drivers are very unlikely to report positive responses on the completely subjective Epworth scale, so it is indeed worthless in this population.

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The Berlin only adds BMI and blood pressure as criteria, but is still mainly subjective and we don’t recommend it.

Learn how to use objective, evidence-based criteria proven out in the Anesthesiology Journal in 2008 and again in the British Journal of Aneasthesiology in 2012, to effectively screen drivers who at risk of OSA and need to be referred for sleep testing.

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Enhance your skills in identifying Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Commercial Drivers through our exclusive DOT Mentor class for members.

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