J Rhinol.  2014 Nov;21(2):103-107. 10.0000/jr.2014.21.2.103.

Predictors of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Korean Snoring Patients

• Shin KJ
• Kim SE
• Ha SY
• Park JS
• Park BS
• Sohn JH
• Park KM

• KMID: 2132122
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jr.2014.21.2.103

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the most common symptoms in snoring patients. However, the reason why some individuals complain of daytime sleepiness and others do not is unclear. In this study, we evaluated snoring individuals and examined several demographic and polysomnographic profiles in an attempt to identify predictors of excessive daytime sleepiness.
METHODS
The inclusion criteria for patients were the following: 1) patients who underwent an overnight polysomnograph, 2) patients with the chief complaint of snoring, and 3) patients who completed the Korean version of the Epworth sleepiness scale. We used the Epworth sleepiness scale to estimate excessive daytime sleepiness. We quantified correlations between the Epworth sleepiness scale and the demographic/polysomnographic parameters. We also analyzed the parameters affecting excessive daytime sleepiness using multiple linear regression analysis.
RESULTS
One hundred nineteen patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Multiple regression analysis showed that young age was the only independent variable showing statistical significance for predicting excessive daytime sleepiness, and was well-correlated with the Epworth sleepiness scale. However, there were no polysomnographic parameters that were predictive.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians need to be cautious when using the Epworth sleepiness scale for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and determining the response to treatment.

Keyword

Age; Snoring; Daytime Sleepiness; Epworth Sleepiness Scale

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Humans
Linear Models
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
Snoring*