Predictors of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Predictors of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Objective: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a known risk factor for various accidents and can cause poor quality of life. In this study, we intended to study the demographic and clinical characteristics of EDS in patients with OSAS. Methods: This retrospective study gathered data from 283 patients. We classified patients with Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores ≥ 10 points as the EDS group and those with an ESS score <10 were the non EDS group. We also compared the results of physiological and polysomnographic examinations to determine if EDS could be used to predict in patients with OSAS. A stratified analysis was also done to study subpopulation related factors associated with EDS in OSAS patients. Results: Male OSAS patients with EDS had significantly shortened rapid eye movement latency (REML, p < 0.01), significantly greater sleep efficiency (p < 0.05), and significantly higher EES score (p < 0.001), compared to those without EDS. Female OSAS patients with EDS had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05) and had significantly more EES score (p < 0.001). Female OSAS patients with EDS in childbearing age had significantly higher EES score (p < 0.001) and had significantly higher BMI (p < 0.05). OSAS patients with severe EDS had significantly shortened REML (p < 0.01) and significantly more EES score (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that there were differences in the characteristics of OSAS patients with and without EDS and they differed in their subgroups. All findings are mostly in line with those in existing literature.