title: The impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome severity on physical performance and mental health. The use of SF-36 questionnaire in sleep apnea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder defined by repeated episodes of airflow cessation (apneas)leading to arterial hypoxemia and sleep disruption. OSAS has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality and diminished quality of life so far. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of OSAS on patients' Quality of Life, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty five subjects referred to the sleep laboratory and underwent full polysomnography overnight. Prior to sleep study onset, we registered height and weight, medical history, smoking habit, drug consumption. Afterwards, each patient completed the SF-36. Eighty subjects not diagnosed with sleep apnea [apnea hypopnea index (AHI < 5)] were excluded. Therefore, 165 subjects (121 male and 44 female) remained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistical analysis revealed that in patients with respiratory disturbance index (RDI) ≥ 15, (n = 115), RDI was independently associated with lower performance in role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.005). Additionally, RDI was the only factor associated with decreased vitality (p = 0.014) and mental health scores (p = 0.047). In the same patient subgroup, body mass index (BMI) and age were associated with poorer scores in physical functioning (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). BMI was an independent clinical predictor of worse scores in bodily pain (p = 0.006) general health (p = 0.006), social functioning (p = 0.025) and role limitations due to emotional problems (p = 0.004).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karkoulias
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lykouras
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sampsonas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaivazoglou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sargianou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drakatos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spiropoulos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires