[Assessment with the Epworth scale of daytime somnolence in patients with suspected obstructive apnea syndrome during sleep. Differences between patients and their partners].

UNLABELLED: Daytime sleepiness is an important symptom in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The Epworth sleepiness scale gives a subjective estimate of the level of sleepiness by asking the patient to estimate the probability of falling asleep during each of eight activities of daily living.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to see whether patients suspected of sleep apnea and their partners or other living companions assessed daytime sleepiness differently.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred fifty-nine consecutive patients referred for suspicion of sleep respiratory disorder were studied. Patients and their partners assessed sleepiness separately using the Epworth scale.

RESULTS

One hundred forty subjects were men and 19 were women. The mean global Epworth score provided by the patients was significantly lower than that of their companions (10 +/- 0.37 versus 11 +/- 0.42; p < 0.001). However, the two were closely correlated (rho = 0.79).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that living companions' subjective Epworth scale assessment of sleepiness is greater than is that of patients themselves.