Citation

Petiau C, Delanoe C, Hecht MT, Chamouard V, Krieger J. Neurophysiol. Clin. 1993; 23(1): 77-85.

Vernacular Title

Somnolence et syndrome d'apnees du sommeil. Analyse de 188 questionnaires (102

Affiliation

Unité des troubles du sommeil, clinique neurologique, centre hospitalier universitaire, Strasbourg, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8446075

Abstract

A questionnaire was given to 102 obstructive sleep apnea patients and 86 controls. A somnolence index was defined by averaging the scores of the answers to eleven questions concerning sleepiness. This index separated patients and controls (P < 0.0001). It was correlated with the apnea + hypopnea index (r = 0.32, P < 0.001), the body mass index (r = 0.45, P < 0.001) and with an objective measurement of sleepiness obtained from a modified multiple sleep latency test (r = -0.54, P < 0.001). Depending upon the current occupation, the tendency to fall asleep decreased in the following order: watching TV, passenger in a means of transport, reading, attending a show, attending a meeting, driving a car, and eating. This order is the same in patients and controls, irrespective of their "overall sleepiness". Thus, the circumstances of falling asleep are indicative of the severity of sleepiness.

Language: fr