[Validation of the Arabic Version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale: Multicentre study].
OBJECTIVE
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a self-completion questionnaire developed in the English language and used for the evaluation of sleepiness. The objective of this study was to develop an Arabic version of ESS (AESS) and to investigate its reliability and the validity.


METHODS
The AESS was created according to the recommendations of the ISPOR Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation with bilingual individuals. It was applied to 91 patients referred to three sleep Lebanese centers for suspicion of sleep-related breathing diseases, and to 166 controls in good health. AESS scores of 60 patients were compared to 60 matched controls according to their age, sex and body mass index. Reproducibility was tested in 30 controls. The treatment response was tested among 15 patients after one month of CPAP treatment.


RESULTS
Principal component analysis showed convergence towards only one latent factor. The AESS had a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.76, intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.85 (IC95%: 0.76-0.92), Spearman 0.97, P<0.001). An increase in the severity of sleep apnea was accompanied by an increase in the score on the AESS (P<0.001). AESS scores improved significantly after CPAP.


CONCLUSIONS
The AESS, a reliable and valid instrument for the evaluation of daytime sleepiness, is a valuable tool for clinical practice and multicenter research.
Service de pneumologie et de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu-de-France, rue Alfred-Naccache, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon. riachy@dm.net.lb
M
M
Riachy
G
G
Juvelikian
G
G
Sleilaty
T
T
Bazarbachi
G
G
Khayat
C
C
Mouradides
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018643:Arab World; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations