Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Symptoms in the Workplace and Their Association with Metabolic and Mental Health Problems and Injuries: A Cross-Sectional Study

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and underdiagnosed condition that has a significant impact on health and safety. Because it is not an occupational disease, it is not systematically screened for in the workplace. We conducted a census on 2,226 workers from various productive sectors to evaluate the frequency of suspected OSA, using the Berlin questionnaire, and studied the association with metabolic and mental health problems and injuries. This revealed a prevalence of high risk of OSA of 15.6% (95%CI=14.1;17.2). Workers with suspected OSA had worse sleep quality, greater sleepiness, and greater perceived stress than other asymptomatic workers. They had a higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and higher levels of mental health problems. They also had more frequent home- and work-related injuries. The risk that workers may suffer from OSA should be systematically investigated in the workplace.