0621 Drowsy Driving in Puerto Ricans: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2011

• Published in: Sleep (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 42; no. Supplement_1; p. A247
• Main Authors: Jimenez, Lissette, Otero, Yomaira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Westchester Oxford University Press 13.04.2019
• Subjects: Sleep deprivation; Surveillance; United States > US
• ISSN: 0161-8105; 1550-9109
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz067.619

Introduction Drowsy driving contributes to as many as 25% of automobile accidents in the United States (US). Ethnic differences in sleep duration have been reported in population based studies. Hispanics are a diverse group and research studies rarely identify Puerto Ricans within the study subjects. Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published results of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey of 2011 were Puerto Ricans had the highest prevalence of drowsy driving as compared to other states. Methods Cross-sectional data analysis from the 2011 BRFSS, including an optional module regarding insufficient sleep. Baseline characteristics were compared for both groups, US and Puerto Rico (PR). Comparison among groups was performed using t-tests. The age-adjusted prevalence for sleepiness at the wheel was calculated for PR and the US. Results Drowsy driving in the last 30 days was present in 5% of Puerto Rican drivers and 3% of US drivers. In the US, 39.5% of the population reported 14 days or less of insufficient sleep versus 32.6% in PR. The average sleep duration was 7 hours in the US (27.1%) and 8 hours in PR (32.6%), however, 5 hours or less of sleep was more common in PR (15.1%) than in the US (11.1%) (<0.01). Self-reported snoring was seen in 47.3% of US subjects versus 50.1% of Puerto Ricans. Daytime sleepiness was more common in PR than in the US, 29.3% versus 24.9% (< 0.01). Conclusion Drowsy driving is more prevalent in Puerto Rican than US drivers. Further research and interventions must be aimed at this high-risk population. Known risk factors contribute, but do not fully account, for this disparity. Support (If Any)