The aim of the paper is to present the basic review information on the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnoea which is more frequently diagnosed and treated in relation to the increasing number of sleep laboratories in the Czech Republic. The paper draws attention to relations between the disease and the sleep, however their consequences may affect also the vigilant state and may influence the working capacity of the patient due to hypersomnia and microsleep. The authors present a few of short case studies which point out to this disease as an important fact in assessing the health ability to work.

        Key words: obstructive sleep apnoea, microsleep, traffic accidents, hypersomnia, health ability to work