[The primary diagnostic significance of the epworth sleepiness scale in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) in patients with OSAS.


METHODS
The questionnaire of the epworth sleepiness scale was used to evaluate 189 patients with OSAS and 42 patients with snoring. The results were compared to those of polysomnography.


RESULTS
Significant differences in ESS-SP, AHI and sleep structure were found between patients with OSAS and patients with scoring. A significant correlation was found between ESS-SP score and AHI (r = 0.44, P < 0.01). The patients with OSAS had significantly higher scores than those without OSAS. The specificity of this method was 83% (snoring), 90% (mild OSAS), 79% (moderate OSAS) and 82% (severe OSAS).


CONCLUSIONS
ESS-SP is consistent with clinical diagnosis and could be used as a primary diagnostic method in patients with OSAS, especially in primary-care hospitals.
Cao
Jie
J
Department of Respiratory, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China.
Chen
Baoyuan
B
Dong
Lixia
L
Guo
Meinan
M
Wang
Yan
Y
Yu
Mei
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology