耳鼻科杂志

Correlations between Quality of Life, the Degree of Apnea and Diseases Associated Pathology in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Neago? Adriana, Csisz�r Ir�n, Dilyana Vicheva and Monica Tarcea

Correlations between Quality of Life, the Degree of Apnea and Diseases Associated Pathology in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Introduction: Respiratory sleep pathology constitutes a notable preoccupation owing to the implications it has on the quality of life. This is directly influenced by a series of illnesses associated with sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) as well as the degree of daytime sleepiness, expressed via a form called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale or ESS, which shows a value given by daytime sleepiness in correlation with certain activities during the day.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective, transversal study has been carried out at the Galenus Medical Center in Târgu Mure. on a batch of 132 persons who had presented OSAS symptomatology; their average age was 42.18 ± 12.70, and their body mass index or BMI had an average value of 31.20 ± 5.74 kg/m2. Patients underwent polygraphic and polysomnographic recordings. Upon completing these, a value of the apnea-hypopnea index or AHI has been established, with the average value being 32.16 ± 27.95. Subsequently, ENT assessments had been carried out based on flexible nasopharyngoscopy and nasal endoscopy as well as selfassessment of the persons by completing the Epworth scale. The average value of ESS was 8.66 ± 4.70. The fundamental aim of this study was to show whether ESS had or had not been influenced by the value of the AHI index, and thus, the severity of OSAS, and whether there is a correlation with other associated pathologies.

Results and Discussion: We have used univariate and multivariate analysis in order to investigate the factors that determine the severity of OSAS. These analyses have pointed out that obesity, AHT and certain upper airway diseases are aggravating factors for OSAS and that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular comorbidities increase concurrently with the increase of OSAS severity. Also, the codependency between AHI and ESS is positive, and an increase in AHI involves a linear ESS increase, and thus, a decrease in the quality of life.

Conclusions: The state of wakefulness and activity during daytime, and respectively the quality of life, is in close correlation with the quality of sleep and is influenced by the various associated pathologies.