• Marli Maria Knorst, Fábio José Fabrício de Barros Souza, and Denis Martinez.
• Departamento de Medicina Interna, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. mmknorst@terra.com.br
• J Bras Pneumol. 2008 Jul 1; 34 (7): 490-6.

ObjectiveTo study the effects that gender and obesity have on excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), as well as to identify factors associated with EDS in such individuals.MethodsA total of 300 consecutive patients who completed the clinical evaluation satisfactorily and whose polysomnography showed an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 10 events/hour of sleep were selected from a sleep clinic population for inclusion in the study.ResultsMean age was 47 +/- 11 years, and mean AHI was 52.1 +/- 29.2 events/hour of sleep. Females presented higher mean age, lower EDS scores and less time in apnea. Mean EDS score was 14.7 +/- 7.2. The EDS score correlated better with body movements (r = 0.43; p < 0.01), respiratory events during sleep (r = 0.40; p < 0.01), duration of apnea (r = 0.40; p < 0.01), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2; r = -0.38; p < 0.01) and AHI (r = 0.37; p < 0.01). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.2 +/- 5.3 kg/m(2). Overweight, obesity and morbid obesity were observed in 41, 44 and 5.3% of cases, respectively. Disease severity correlated most strongly with BMI (r = 0.51; p < 0.01).ConclusionsHigher mean age, lower EDS scores and less time spent in sleep apnea time in apnea were associated with being female. Fragmented sleep, number/duration of respiratory events during sleep, SpO2 levels and obesity were associated with sleepiness. The BMI had a significant effect on OSAHS severity.

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