Excessive daytime sleepiness among patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a medical disorder that predisposes to cardiovascular diseases. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common finding in patients with metabolic syndrome. Aim: To assess the presence of EDS among subjects with metabolic syndrome and to find its correlations with apnea hypopnea index (AHI), Hamilton depression rating score (HDRS), body mass index (BMI), age and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Method: 76 patients with metabolic syndrome were evaluated for EDS by Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) and for sleep apnea by polysomnography. Results: 22 subjects (28.9%) had EDS, 37 subjects (48.7%) had sleep apnea and 28 subjects (36.8%) had depression. ESS showed no significant association with AHI while it showed significant associations with each of HDRS, BMI, age and FPG. Conclusions: Other explanations of EDS in subjects with metabolic syndrome can be related to obesity, depression, or diabetes rather than to sleep apnea. Subjects with metabolic syndrome should be screened for EDS regardless of sleep apnea.

Keywords

• Excessive day time sleepiness
• Metabolic syndrome
• Sleep apnea