"Dozing off" in the car and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in Parkinson's disease: a survey of 125 patients.

Parkinson's disease patients are at increased risk of road traffic and car accidents and those with excessive daytime sleepiness are specially susceptible. Abnormal scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale predicts risk for driving-related somnolence which may cause road traffic accidents in driving patients as many such patients declare dozing of while in a car. Our study estimates that over 40% of patients with daytime somnolence have risks of dozing off in a car. There is an association with dopamine agonist intake and depression and anxiety are commonly comorbid. Further prospective structured studies addressing driving, road traffic accidents and dopamine replacement therapies in PD are needed.