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Abstract
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We previously demonstrated significant gender and racial differences when self-Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and spouse-reported ESS were compared. In this study, we investigate whether gender specific self-ESS scores correlate with the objective measures of sleep quality.
Methods
Seventy-nine patient-spouse pairs completed the ESS questionnaires after which patients underwent polysomnographic testing (PSG). The correlation between ESS results and the PSG-obtained measurements of sleep efficiency (SE), sleep arousal index (AI), and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were evaluated by calculating Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. Differences within patient-spouse pairs were evaluated using Wilcoxon's Rank Sum Test.
Results
Our results indicated significant difference between patient-reported and spouse-reported scores for all patient age/gender groups except for female patients over 60. Significant correlations were seen between female patient-reported ESS scores, but not their spouse-reported ESS scores, and all three objective measures of sleep. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between male patient, and spouse-reported ESS scores and SE, AI, and AHI. The answers of female patients to individual sleepiness scenarios on ESS strongly correlated with at least one of the PSG-obtained values. In male patients, only one sleepiness scenario correlated with AHI, and their spouse-reported answers to specific ESS questions correlated with patients' SE.
Conclusions
Self-reported ESS is an effective marker of sleep quality only in female patients. For male patients, self-reported and spouse-reported answers to the specific questions of the ESS rather than the total ESS score are better markers of sleep quality.
Language: en |