Assessment of daytime sleepiness and reliability test of Epworth sleepiness scale in young individuals

Abstract

Background The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a brief, self-administered questionnaire to measure the daytime sleepiness (DS) in young individuals. It measures an individual's usual level of DS or average sleep propensity in daily life. The scale also estimates whether someone is experiencing excessive sleepiness, which possibly requires medical attention. Aim The aim of the study was to assess the level of DS as well as to assess the reliability of ESS in young individuals. Settings and design The study was designed as a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Participants and methods A total of 120 apparently healthy participants belonging to both sexes were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months. The anthropometric measurements included BMI and neck width, ESS scores, DS by the mean levels of chance of dozing, O 2 saturation, and pulse rate. Statistical analysis The reliability of ESS scores and its correlations with various parameters were assessed using paired T-test. Results The mean levels of chance of dozing and ESS scores were significantly lower during daytime in female individuals. ESS scores were significantly correlated with BMI, neck width, and pulse rate; however, there was no correlation between ESS scores and O 2 saturation. The ESS scores as well as the above-mentioned results did not change significantly even after 6 months, indicating good reliability. Conclusion The ESS is appropriate for measuring DS in young individuals, and it also enables characterization of individuals with sleep-related disorders.