Sleepiness and relationships in obstructive sleep apnea.
This is a qualitative analysis of data from a multisite study of 156 participants with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Participants completed a battery of tests, including the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) that contains an item assessing the impact of OSA on relationships. Approximately one third of participants wrote comments; they were predominately male, mean age 44.7, with severe OSA. Interpersonal themes expressed included work and marital problems and social life restriction. Intrapersonal themes included embarrassment and poor mood. This report adds specific details to previous reports of impaired relationships in OSA, and stresses the importance of assessing this critical area.
School of Nursing, and Division of Sleep Medicine and Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6096, USA.
Judith L
JL
Reishtein
Allan I
AI
Pack
Greg
G
Maislin
David F
DF
Dinges
Thomas J
TJ
Bloxham
Charles F P
CF
George
Harly
H
Greenberg
Gihan A
GA
Kader
Mark W
MW
Mahowald
Joel B
JB
Younger
Terri E
TE
Weaver
D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation