Public health and medicolegal implications of sleep apnoea.

De® nition of sleep apnoea syndrome . . . . . . . . .1594 Epidemiology and clinical aspects . . . . . . . . . . .1595 Sleep apnoea in the young and elderly . . . . . 1596 Morbidity and mortality related to sleep apnoea syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1597 Impact of treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea/ hypopnoea on associated cardiovascular morbidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1597 Association of sleep apnoea with road traf® c accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1597 Impact of treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea/ hypopnoea syndrome on accident risk . . . . . 1598 Driving regulations concerning sleep apnoea and/or excessive daytime sleepiness in different European countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1598 Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1598 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1599 Recommendations concerning driver licensing. . . .1602 Association of sleep apnoea with other forms of accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1604 Resource implications for the investigation and management of sleep apnoea syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . .1605 Appendix 1: Questionnaire sent to National Licensing Authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1605 Appendix 2: Initial set of addresses of National Licensing Authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1606