To evaluate cognitive function and the relationship between the quality of life and cognition disorders in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To asscess cognitive changes of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and the relationship between the quality of life and cognition disorders.Methods The data of 90 patients with OSAHS in Xuanwu hospital were investigated in our study.All patients were divided into three groups,according to apnea-hypopnea index(AHI): mild group,moderate group and severe group.The cognitive function was evaluated by MMSE.The quality of life was assessed by the short-form(SF-36).The excessive daytime sleepiness was assessed by the epworth sleepiness scale(ESS).Results 1.There was no significant difference in age,sex,BMI and education degree in the three groups(P0.05).2.The parameters,including AHI,longest apnea time(LAT) and percentage of time spend when oxygen saturation lower than 0.9(SLT90%) were significantly higher in the severe OSAHS group than those in the mild and moderate groups(P0.01).Minima satuation of blood oxygen(SaO2 min) in the severe OSAHS group was significantly lower than that in the mild and moderate groups(P0.01).3.The total score of MMSE and subtest scores of MMSE in leaning,memory,calculation and constructive function were significantly lower in the severe OSAHS group than those in the mild and moderate groups(P0.05).4.The score of ESS in the severe OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the mild and moderate groups(P0.01),and also the score was higher in the moderate OSAHS group than that in the mild OSAHS group(P0.01).The score of SF-36 in the severe OSAHS group was significantly lower than that in the mild and moderate groups(P0.01).There was no significant difference in score of SF-36 between the mild and moderate OSAHS groups(P0.05).5.In patients with OSAHS,the score of MMSE was positively correlated with the SaO2 min(P0.01) and was negatively correlated with AHI,LAT,SLT90% and ESS(P0.01).The total score of MMSE was positively correlated with the score of SF-36(P0.05).Conclusion 1.There is an obvious decrease in cognitive function in patients with severe OSAHS,especially in leaning,memory,calculation and constructive function.2.There is the excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with OSAHS.The severity of OSAHS and the level of excessive daytime sleepiness are markedly correlated with the cognitive dysfunction.3.The changes of quality of life are influenced by their cognitive dysfunction.