Excessive daytime sleepiness in idiopathic blepharospasm.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and its impact on quality of life and its associated clinical factors in idiopathic blepharospasm.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 425 idiopathic blepharospasm patients and a group of 424 age-matched and sex-matched healthy subjects. EDS was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in all subjects. Other clinical characteristics of patients with idiopathic blepharospasm including motor symptoms, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, cognition, and quality of life were also assessed.

RESULTS

EDS was significantly more frequent in patients with idiopathic blepharospasm than in controls (22.1% vs 12.3%; p < 0.05). Blepharospasm patients with EDS scored significantly higher in Jankovic Rating scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HARS), and significantly lower in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) than those without EDS (p < 0.05). The binary logistic regression model indicated that male, younger age of onset of blepharospasm, higher motor scores, higher HDRS scores, and lower MoCA scores were associated with the presence of EDS in patients with blepharospasm (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Recognition and management of EDS in idiopathic blepharospasm patients is necessary as the occurrence of EDS was associated with higher motor burden, more serious mood and cognitive disturbances, and poorer quality of life. Our results suggest that blepharospasm may exhibit abnormal sleep-wake patterns and further support the clinical heterogeneity of the disease.