title: Normative values of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), derived from a large German sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Daytime sleepiness is associated with several medical problems. The aim of this paper is to provide normative values for one of the most often used questionnaires measuring daytime sleepiness, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A large sample of 9711 people from the German general population took part in this study. In addition to the ESS, several other questionnaires were used, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normative values for the ESS are given. According to the generally accepted criterion ESS > 10, 23 % of the sample showed excessive daytime sleepiness. Males reported significantly more daytime sleepiness than females (effect size d = 0.19). In the age range of 40-80 years, a continuous decline of daytime sleepiness was observed. Psychometric properties of the ESS were good. Alcohol intake and nicotine consumption were marginally associated with daytime sleepiness, and obese people reported significantly more sleepiness than people of normal weight (OR = 1.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The normative tables allow clinicians and researchers to assess the degree of their patients' daytime sleepiness, especially in the upper range of scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hegerl
authors.affiliation: LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wirkner
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: Institute and Policlinic for Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüya-Daniela
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kocalevent
authors.affiliation: German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petrowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glaesmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. andreas.hinz@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Daytime sleepiness; Epidemiology; Normative values; Population-based study; Prognostic factors