Epworth Sleepiness Scale

About: Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4742 publications have been published within this topic receiving 155088 citations.

Modafinil for excessive daytime sleepiness in myotonic dystrophy

Abstract: The authors conducted an open-label trial of modafinil for excessive daytime sleepiness in myotonic dystrophy. Eleven patients were evaluated: two were not treated because of obstructive sleep apnea, and nine received 200 to 400 mg modafinil/day for an average of 16.4 weeks. There were no major side effects. Average sleep latency as measured by the Multiple Sleep Latency Test increased from 7.3 to 22.7 minutes ( p = 0.00013), and average Epworth Sleepiness Scale score decreased from 13.25 to 7.75 (p = 0.01028). Modafinil shows evidence of effectiveness for excessive daytime somnolence in myotonic dystrophy and should be investigated further.

Sleep problems and the risk for sleep disorders in an outpatient veteran population.

Abstract: We used a self-report questionnaire to identify outpatients with chronic symptoms of sleep disorders and/or high pretest probability for sleep apnea as well as for restless legs syndrome (RLS), insomnia, and narcolepsy. Surveys were presented to patients waiting for an appointment in Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center clinics in Northeast Ohio, USA. Items addressed the frequency of snoring behavior; wake time sleepiness or fatigue and history of obesity/hypertension for high risk for sleep apnea (Netzer et al. 1999), along with other symptoms, were scored as positive vs negative risk for insomnia, narcolepsy, and RLS. Of the patients offered the surveys, 886 (59.2%) provided timely responses to the questionnaire. Mean age was 62.5 years (range, 19 to 85 years); 95% were males; mean body mass index was 29.3 kg/cm(2) (range, 15.1 to 57.5 kg/cm(2)); and mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale score was 8.3 (range, 1 to 22) with 4.6% having a score >17. Of the respondents, 47.4% met high-risk criteria for sleep apnea, 41.7% for insomnia, 19% for restless leg syndrome, and 4.7% for narcolepsy. Twenty-four percent reported use of sleeping pills or bedtime alcohol. Drowsy driving >3-4 days a week or every day was reported in 5.7%. VA primary care patients have high prevalence for pretest probability for sleep apnea. This population also reports chronic symptoms for other sleep disorders and for drowsy driving.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with diabetes in sleepy subjects

Abstract: Background: Although obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been linked to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, it is unclear whether there is an independent association between OSA and diabetes mellitus (DM) and whether all patients with OSA are at risk. The objective of this study was to determine the association between OSA and DM in a large cohort of patients referred for sleep diagnostic testing. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of participants in a clinic-based study was conducted between July 2005 and August 2007. DM was defined by self-report and concurrent use of diabetic medications (oral hypoglycaemics and/or insulin). Sensitivity analysis was performed using a validated administrative definition of diabetes. OSA was defined by the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) using polysomnography or ambulatory monitoring. Severe OSA was defined as an RDI ⩾30/h. Subjective sleepiness was defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ⩾10. Results: Complete data were available for 2149 patients. The prevalence of DM increased with increasing OSA severity (p Conclusions: Severe OSA is independently associated with DM in patients who report excessive sleepiness. Future studies investigating the impact of OSA treatment on DM may wish to focus on this patient population.

On the pharmacotherapy of sleep bruxism: placebo-controlled polysomnographic and psychometric studies with clonazepam.

Abstract: Objectives: Sleep bruxism (SB) is a parasomnia defined as a stereotyped movement disorder characterized by grinding or clenching of the teeth during sleep. Pathophysiologically, SB is the result of biological and psychosocial influences. Treatment comprises behavioral, orthodontic and pharmacological interventions. While benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants have been reported by clinicians to reduce bruxism-related motor activity, placebo-controlled studies are lacking. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of clonazepam (Rivotril®) as compared with placebo, utilizing polysomnography and psychometry. Method: Ten drug-free outpatients (6 females, 4 males), aged 46.5 ± 13.1 years, suffering from SB (ICD-10: F45.8; ICSD: 306.8) and having been treated by bite splints were included in the trial. Comorbidity was high: 7 patients presented nonorganic insomnia related to adjustment or anxiety disorders (5 patients) or depression (2 patients); all patients had a concomitant movement disorder (6 restless legs syndrome, 4 periodic leg movement disorder). After one adaptation night, patients received placebo and 1 mg clonazepam 1/2 hour before lights out in a single-blind, nonrandomized study design. Objective sleep quality was determined by polysomnography, subjective sleep and awakening quality by rating scales, objective awakening quality by psychometric tests. Clinical evaluation was based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Zung Depression (SDS) and Anxiety (SAS) Scales, the Quality of Life Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) Scale. Results: On admission, SB patients exhibited deteriorated PSQI, SAS, SDS and IRLSSG measures. As compared with placebo, 1 mg clonazepam significantly improved the mean bruxism index from 9.3 to 6.3/h of sleep. Furthermore, it significantly improved the total sleep period, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency and time awake during the total sleep period, and increased stage 2 sleep and movement time. Periodic leg movements decreased significantly, while the apnea index and apnea-hypopnea index increased marginally, but remained within normal limits. Subjective sleep quality improved as well, while in mood, performance and psychophysiology no changes were observed. Conclusion: Acute clonazepam therapy significantly improved not only the bruxism index but also objective and subjective sleep quality, with unchanged mood, performance and psychophysiological measures upon awakening, suggesting good tolerability of the drug.