PROCJENA DNEVNE POSPANOSTI U BOLESNIKA S OPSTRUKCIJSKOM APNEJOM TIJEKOM SPAVANJA I NJIHOVIH BRAČNIH PARTNERA

Aim: The aim of the research was to compare evaluations of excessive daytime sleepiness between patients diagnosed with OSA and their partners. Materials and Methods: 31 patients were enroled in this study, 26 men and 5 women, with mean age of 51 years. Respondents were interviewed in Split Sleep Medicine Center at the night when whole-night polysomnography was performed. Patients were interwieved to estimate their excessive daytime sleepiness using Epworth sleepiness scale (Appendix 1). At the same time while participants were on polysomnographic examination, their partners were contacted by telephone to respond to questions from the Epworth sleepiness scale, in order to estimate excessive sleepiness of patients. Results: The results of our study have shown that the average value of excessive daytime sleepiness determined by Epworth scale for patients who have OSA was 10.61 ± 4.80. When we compare the results of the evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness patients who have OSA and their partners then the results of our study show that the partners assess excessive daytime sleepiness patients greater than themselves (13.16 ± 3.96 vs. 10.61 ± 4.80). By assessing patients and their partners through the Epworth scale majority of patients with OSA have excessive daytime sleepiness. Research has shown that excessive daytime sleepiness correlates best with the lowest recorded oxygen saturation in the blood (r = -0.36, p <0.047). Conclusion: Research has shown that partners of patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea evaluated excessive daytime sleepiness of patients greater than themselves. Evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness better correlates with the lowest recorded oxygen saturation in the blood during the whole-night polysomnography than with AHI index. Since the OSA has been a part of a wide range of abnormal breathing during sleep, which leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, this study indicates importance of the partners in the detection and diagnosis of OSA.