Relationship between the quality of life and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

The effects of sleep disorders on the quality of life (QOL) have been documented in the literature. Excessive sleepiness and altered circadian rhythms may negatively affect ability to learn, employment, and interpersonal relations, and directly degrade QOL. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome of varying severity on QOL. The study was conducted on 1892 patients aged 18 years or older referred by a physician to the Sleep Institute, São Paulo, with complaints related to apnea (snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, hyperarousal, and fatigue). They were submitted to overnight polysomnography for the diagnosis of sleep disorders from August 2005 through April 2006. The patients completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and QOL SF-36 sleep questionnaires. They were classified as non-physically active and physically active and not-sleepy and sleepy and the results of polysomnography were analyzed on the basis of the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). The apneic subjects showed a reduction in QOL which was proportional to severity. There was a significant decrease in all domains (physical functioning, role physical problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, emotional problems, general mental health) for apneics with AHI >30, who generally were sleepy and did not participate in physical activities (P < 0.05). The present study provides evidence that the impact of sleep disorders on QOL in apneics is not limited to excessive daytime sleepiness and that physical activity can contribute to reducing the symptoms. Thus, exercise should be considered as an adjunct interventional strategy in the management of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Health-related quality of life after tonsillotomy versus tonsillectomy in young adults: 6 years postsurgery follow-up

“…When considered in relation to the patients' self-estimated physical activity, a pattern was discernible; there is an inverse correlation between physical activity and BMI. There is also a correlation between physical activities and OSA in that it has been found that even a small amount of physical activity improves HRQL for patients with moderate OSA 21 . In a study of lifestyle interventions to treat mild OSA, the authors concluded that for this category of patients, weight loss should be considered as a golden standard since it yields clear positive effects on morbidity and is an easy way to approach the phenomenon.…”

“…This can lead to weight gain and thereby more tiredness such that it becomes a vicious circle 19 . The greater the severity of SDB, the larger the impact on HRQL 21 . This is consistent with results for patients in the present study since they report that their snoring is not as severe as it was before surgery.…”

The Diagnostic Value of Pleural Fluid Neopterin Level in Tuberculous Pleurisy

“…OUAS'l hastalarda ise egzersiz kapasitesi, ya am kalitesi ve AH indeksi aras nda bir ili ki oldu u tan mlanm t r [7,19,26]. Çal mam zda literatürden farkl olarak, sosyodemogrofik özellikleri ve obstrüksiyon iddetleri benzer olan bu iki kronik hava yolu obstrüktif hastal kta 6DYM ve KF-36 ile de erlendirmi olduumuz ya am kalitesi skorlar aras nda korelasyon bulunmam t r. Ancak bilindi i gibi genel sa l kla ili kili ya am kalitesi de erlendirmesi, bireyin yakla k son dört haftal k süreç içe-risinde, çe itli günlük ya am aktiviteleri s ras nda deneyimledi i, fiziksel, psikolojik ve sosyal komponentlerinin bir bütün olarak incelenmesini içermektedir.…”

Avaliação da qualidade de vida e do sono de atletas paralímpicos brasileiros

“…Dessa forma, o volume de treinamento pode apresentar uma relação dose-resposta negativa entre nível de atividade física e qualidade de vida 10,11 . Em adição, já é demonstrado na literatura que a qualidade do sono está intrinsecamente ligada à QV, onde alterações no seu padrão normal podem levar a prejuízos físicos e psicológicos na saúde 12 .…”