title: Prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness in a sample of the Australian adult population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is associated with significant personal and medical burden. However, there is little indication of the impact of these symptoms in the broader population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 946 men ages 24-92 years (median age, 59.4 [interquartile range {IQR}, 45-73 years]) and 1104 women ages 20-94 years (median age, 50 [IQR, 34-65 years]) who resided in the Barwon Statistical Division, South-Eastern Australia, and participated in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study (GOS) between the years of 2001 and 2008. EDS was defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of ⩾ 10. Lifestyle factors, history of medical conditions, and medication history were documented by self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For men, the age-specific prevalence of EDS was 5.1% (ages 20-29 years), 6.4% (ages 30-39 years), 9.8% (ages 40-49 years), 15.5% (ages 50-59 years), 12.0% (ages 60-69 years), 12.0% (ages 70-79 years), and 29.0% (ages ⩾ 80 years). For women, the age-specific prevalence of EDS was 14.7% (ages 20-29 years), 8.7% (ages 30-39 years), 15.0% (ages 40-49 years), 16.0% (ages 50-59 years), 12.6% (ages 60-69 years), 13.2% (ages 70-79 years), and 17.0% (ages ⩾ 80 years). Overall standardized prevalence of EDS was 10.4% (95% confidence interval, 9.7-11.2) for men and 13.6% (95% confidence interval, 12.8-14.4) for women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of EDS increased with age, affecting approximately one-third of those aged ⩾ 80 years. Because EDS has been associated with poorer health outcomes in the older age strata, these findings suggest that routine screening may be beneficial in ongoing health assessments for these individuals. Overall, more than one-tenth of the Australian adult population has EDS, which is indicative of possible underlying sleep pathology.
authors: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: achayley@deakin.edu.au.
authors: Amie C
authors: AC
authors: Hayley
authors: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors: Lana J
authors: LJ
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Psychology, College of Arts, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Gerard A
authors: GA
authors: Kennedy
authors: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Orygen Research Centre, Parkville, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Berk
authors: NorthWest Academic Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Australia; Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, NorthWest Academic Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Australia.
authors: Sharon L
authors: SL
authors: Brennan
authors: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; NorthWest Academic Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Australia.
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Pasco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Lifestyle; Medical conditions; Population; Sleepiness