Prevalence of High Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores in a rural population

• Published in: Canadian respiratory journal Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. e10 - e14
• Main Authors: Pahwa, P, Karunanayake, C P, Hagel, L, Gjevre, J A, Rennie, D, Lawson, J, Dosman, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Egypt Pulsus Group Inc 2012; Wiley
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - epidemiology; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - complications; Original; Pilot Projects; Prevalence; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Saskatchewan - epidemiology; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Saskatchewan
• ISSN: 1198-2241; 1916-7245
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/287309

Increased daytime sleepiness is an important symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is frequently underdiagnosed, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) can be a useful tool in alerting physicians to a potential problem involving OSA. To measure the prevalence and determinants of daytime sleepiness measured using the ESS in a rural community population. A community survey was conducted to examine the risk factors associated with ESS in a rural population in 154 households comprising 283 adults. Questionnaire information was obtained regarding physical factors, social factors, general medical history, family medical history, ESS score, and self-reported height and weight. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis based on the generalized estimating equations approach to account for clustering within households was used to predict the relationship between a binary ESS score outcome (normal or abnormal) and a set of explanatory variables. The population included 140 men (49.5%) and 143 women (50.5%) with an age range of 18 to 97 years (mean [± SD] 52.0±14.9 years). The data showed that 79.2% of the study participants had an ESS score in the normal range (0 to 10) and 20.8% had an ESS score >10, which is considered to be abnormal or high sleepiness. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that obesity was significantly associated with an abnormal or high sleepiness score on the ESS (OR 3.40 [95% CI 1.31 to 8.80). High levels of sleepiness in this population were common. Obesity was an important risk factor for high ESS score.