Difference of Polysomnographic, Anthropometric, Physical and Radiologic Findings in an Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Patient with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Lee, Sun kyu; Kim, Sung Wan; Lee, Young Chan; Kim, Sang Hoon; Eun, Young Gyu; Cho, Joong Saeng

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a well-known consequence of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and can be the cause of several psycho-social problems. The objective degree of EDS measured by the multiple sleep latency test is not correlated with the subjective degree of EDS. We examined EDS according to Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) in OSAS and evaluated the difference between EDS group and non-EDS group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred sixteen patients diagnosed with OSAS and prepared for surgical treatment were evaluated for this study. They were divided between EDS and non-EDS groups by a Korean version of ESS questionnaire. Also, they were given a physical examination and checked for anthropometric parameters, factors related with respiration and sleep architecture during sleep. Then, we measured the difference of sleep parameters between the EDS group and non-EDS group and found correlated factors of sleep with EDS measured by ESS. RESULT: There were no significant differences in the physical examination, anthropometric factors and sleep architecture between the EDS group and non-EDS group. Only the parameters of arousal (arousal with respiration, total arousal) were different between the two groups. ESS score showed a correlation with parameters of arousal, apnea index and apnea-hypopnea index with weak correlation efficiency.
CONCLUSION
The parameters related with arousal revealed that there was a difference between the EDS group and non-EDS group. Some parameters including apnea, apnea-hypopnea index showed a correlation with ESS score. It suggests that EDS could develop and be aggravated by sleep fragmentation occurring from OSAS.