Testing a driving simulator to measure daytime sleepiness in sleep apnea

Plain-English translation of NCT06872593 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether a new driving simulator—a realistic test where you drive in a virtual environment—can better measure excessive daytime sleepiness than the standard sleepiness test currently used in clinics. The study focuses on people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep, and measures how sleepy they feel both with and without their CPAP treatment (the breathing machine they use at night).

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a major cause of car accidents, but current medical tests don't always accurately predict who is safe to drive. This new driving simulator test may be more realistic and help doctors better identify when people are too sleepy to drive safely.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are an adult driver with obstructive sleep apnea that has been diagnosed and confirmed
you have been using CPAP therapy consistently for at least 6 months (more than 5 hours per night, at least 80% of nights)
you have vision problems requiring correction of more than ±5 diopters or astigmatism, and you can wear contact lenses for eye tracking
you are willing to temporarily stop CPAP treatment for 7 days during the study (or you are a healthy control with no sleep disorders)

You likely don't qualify if…

you experience motion sickness, dizziness, or kinetosis (even in short car rides)
you work as a professional driver during the study period
you cannot understand the study instructions due to language or cognitive barriers
you have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder or sleep-related condition (healthy controls only)

What participation looks like

You will visit the study center multiple times to complete two types of tests: a standard sleepiness test and a driving simulator test. Some participants will do the driving simulator first, others the standard test first—and you'll repeat both tests under different conditions (once after using your CPAP normally, and once after stopping it for 7 days). The entire study takes a few weeks, and each visit involves sitting in a realistic driving simulator or completing a standard medical sleepiness measurement.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 23, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Switzerland

Division of Traffic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, ZRH

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov