RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The impact of simple snoring on sleep structure and sleepiness has not been well described. In several studies, self-reported snoring was associated with increased daytime sleepiness. However, most studies did not distinguish patients with simple snoring from those with coexisting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using objective measures. We therefore evaluated the relationship between objectively measured snoring and both sleep structure and daytime sleepiness in patients with no or mild OSA. METHODS: Subjects referred for suspected sleep disorders underwent polysomnography (PSG) during which breath sounds were recorded by a microphone. Those with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) <15/h were analyzed. Individual snores were identified by a computer algorithm, from which the snore index (SI) was calculated as the number of snores/h of sleep. Sleep stages and arousals were quantified. Daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score. RESULTS: 74 (35 males) subjects were included (age, mean ±â€¯SD: 46.4 ±â€¯15.3 years and body mass index: 29.8 ±â€¯7.0 kg/m2). The mean SI was 266 ±â€¯243 snores/h. Subjects were categorized according to their SI into 3 tertiles: SI < 100, between 100-350, and >350. No sleep structure indeces, arousals, or ESS score differed among SI tertiles (p > 0.13). There was no correlation between SI and any of these variables (p > 0.29). In contrast, the AHI was significantly related to frequency of arousals (r = 0.23, p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that simple snoring assessed objectively is not related to indices of sleep structure or subjective sleepiness.

Asunto(s)

Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia/etiología , Ronquido/complicaciones , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Polisomnografía , Factores de Riesgo