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Effects of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea on cognitive function and driving performance

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A Correction to this article was published on 17 March 2021

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Abstract

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle accidents in addition to such cognitive impairments as attention and memory deficits. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of upper airway surgery for OSA on driving and cognitive function.

Methods

Adult patients who underwent surgery for OSA at a tertiary medical center in 2016–2019 were prospectively recruited. Patients were assessed before and 3–6 months after surgery with a self-report and neurocognitive battery and a driving simulation platform.

Results

The cohort included 32 patients of average age 46.9 ± 11.6 years. During the 3 years before treatment, 9 patients had been involved in road accidents and 18 were detained by police for traffic violations. After surgery, there was a significant decrease in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (13.7 vs. 8.1, p 0.043) and a significant reduction in time to completion of the Color Trail Test (part 1: 21.4 vs 18.7 s, p = 0.049; part 2: 46.8 vs 40.5 s, p = 0.038). Improvements in divided attention and selective attention response times were noted on the advanced stages of the Useful Field of Vision Scale (p = 0.013, p = 0.054). Before surgery, patients showed a high tendency to drive over the speed limit and to cross the dividing line to the opposite lane on the simulation test. Nevertheless, all considered themselves good drivers. These tendencies decreased after treatment.

Conclusions

Surgery for OSA can significantly improve driving performance and cognitive function.

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Data Availability

Data is available.

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Funding

We received funding for this study from the Israel Insurance Association.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center – Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Uri Alkan, Yuval Nachalon, Amit Ritter, Raphael Feinmesser, Hanna Gilat & Gideon Bachar

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Uri Alkan, Yuval Nachalon, Amit Ritter, Raphael Feinmesser, Hanna Gilat & Gideon Bachar

  3. Department of Occupational Therapy and Driving Rehabilitation Services, Rabin Medical Center – Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinsky St., 4941492, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Penina Weiss

Authors
  1. Uri Alkan
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  2. Yuval Nachalon
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  3. Penina Weiss
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  4. Amit Ritter
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  5. Raphael Feinmesser
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  6. Hanna Gilat
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  7. Gideon Bachar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Uri Alkan.

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Ethics approval

An approval was received for the study from the institutional ethic comity. Approval 0388-14-RMC.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Disclaimer

The Israeli Insurance Association did not have any effect on the study design or results. They received a document summarizing our findings after the study ended.

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The original online version of this article was revised: In the original version of this article, author Penina Weiss was unfortunately missed out. The name should be presented as the third author of this paper. This is now correctly presented above.

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Alkan, U., Nachalon, Y., Weiss, P. et al. Effects of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea on cognitive function and driving performance. Sleep Breath 25, 1593–1600 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02285-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02285-w

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