Interrelationship between Daytime Functional Outcomes and Psychological Distress in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with decreased daytime functional outcomes and increased psychological stress. However, the specific profile of this burden, particularly in the Vietnamese population, remains understudied. This study aimed to analyze sleep-related functional outcomes and psychological stress in a population of untreated Vietnamese patients with OSA.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 61 untreated patients with OSA (78.7% male, mean age 47.8 ± 12.9 years). Participants completed the 10-item Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ-10) and the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients, and a generalized linear model were used to assess the prevalence of symptoms and the relationship between functional and psychological domains.

RESULTS

The majority of the study population presented with severe OSA (mean apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], 47.5 ± 25.5 events/h). The median total score for FOSQ-10 was 16.3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 14.0-18.3). A notable finding was the high prevalence of clinically significant (moderate or higher) psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and stress (22.9%, 54.1%, and 18.0%, respectively). Multivariate regression demonstrated that age was positively associated with FOSQ-10 general productivity but negatively associated with intimacy, whereas AHI was negatively associated with intimacy. FOSQ-10 and DASS-21 scores showed consistent negative correlations across all domains, indicating that diminished sleep-related functional quality of life correlates with elevated psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

In untreated Vietnamese patients with OSA, the prevalence of psychological discomfort, especially anxiety, is considerable and is associated with significant functional impairment. The substantial association between low functional quality of life and high levels of psychological distress shows how important it is to do thorough baseline examinations. Routine assessment for functional impairment and psychological distress should be integral components of the clinical evaluation for patients with OSA.