title: Lack of Impact of Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Sleepiness, Mood and Quality of Life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with sleepiness, depression and reduced quality of life. However, it is unclear whether mild OSA has these negative impacts. Using data from the Apnea Positive Pressure Long-term Efficacy Study (APPLES), this study determined whether participants with mild OSA had greater sleepiness, more depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life in comparison to those without OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  239 individuals evaluated for participation in APPLES with a baseline apnea hypopnea index (AHI) < 15 /hour were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: No OSA (N=40, AHI < 5 /hour) or Mild OSA (N=199, 5 to <15 /hour) based on their screening polysomnogram. Scores on their Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI) were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the No OSA and Mild OSA groups on any of the 5 measures: ESS (No OSA, 9.8 ± 3.5 vs Mild OSA, 10.6 ± 4.3, p=0.26), SSS,(2.8 ± 0.9 vs. 2.9 ± 1.0, p=0.52), HAM-D (4.6 ± 3.0 vs. 4.9 ± 4.7, p=0.27), POMS (33.5 ± 22.3 vs. 28.7 ± 22.0, p=0.70), SAQLI (4.5 ± 0.8 vs. 4.7 ± 0.7, p=0.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with mild OSA in this cohort do not have worse sleepiness, mood or quality of life in comparison to those without OSA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA ; Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA ; Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Stuart F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budhiraja
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batool-Anwar
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA ; Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA ; VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ ; Comprehensive Sleep Solutions, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eichling
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA ; Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ ; Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Sleep Medicine and Research Center, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, MO.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Stanford University Sleep Clinic and Center for Human Sleep Research, Redwood City, CA.
authors.forename: Clete A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kushida