Truckers have long been identified as a group who are at an increased risk of Sleep Apnea. It’s the lifestyle, more than anything else. It involves long hours and strange sleeping patterns, combined with a lack of exercise- let’s face it, sitting there motionless behind the wheel for hours and hours at a time isn’t exactly good for one’s health. Given these conditions, it’s no surprise that for long-distance drivers of all kinds, Sleep Apnea, insomnia and obesity is rampant.
This picture isn’t entirely bleak, however. A recent study has shown that it’s quite possible to reduce the cost of healthcare, and the incidence of disability. The key to this treatment? Dealing with Sleep Apnea effectively.
This study focussed on 248 commercial drivers who suffered from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and divided them into two groups. The first, a group of 156, were seeking treatment, either CPAP therapy or some alternative, to alleviate their symptoms. The remaining 92 drivers were not.
The primary focus of the study was on looking at the insurance costs incurred by participants in the study, taking the cost of treatment as a basis for comparison, along with days taken off work, and insurance. The differences were striking. For drivers who received treatment, there was an average reduction in health care costs of $5,800 over two years. The drivers who received treatment also took less days off work, and spent less money on short-term disability costs.
What does this tell us? Well, in pure and simple economic terms, it tells you that getting medical treatment is a good idea if you have Sleep Apnea. Even for truck drivers, a profession who are more prone to OSA than any other, treatment can give significant benefits.
If you have a problem, then you don’t have to suffer on for fear of the cost. Apart from the health benefits, it may well be cheaper in the long run.
Comments on this entry are closed.