Association Between High Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Elderly People Based on Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale after Exposure to Low Frequency Whole Body Vibration

Abstract

Background: The most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Aim: To look for the high risk of OSA in the elderly population and its association with increased Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and Karolinska sleepiness scale (KSS) scores after exposure with low-frequency whole body vibration (LFWBV). Method: This study used a one group pretest-post test design. Subjects examined for Snoring Score (SS), ESS and KSS scores, after which subjects were given exposure to LFWBV and examined for post-exposure KSS scores. Results: There were more elderly people who have a high risk of OSA. The ESS score showed a non-significant relationship between high risk of OSA and the incidence of EDS based on an increase in ESS score (r 0.401; p value 0.064) and the degree of sleepiness based on the KSS score after LFWBV exposure (r 0.296; p value 0.181), although ESS scores were higher in the group with high risk of OSA (mean score 4.85; p value 0.003). Discussion: The results of this study are consistent with several other studies which show no significant correlation between high risk of OSA and increased ESS scores. LFWBV does provide comfort and increases the degree of sleepiness in subjects with or without a high risk of OSA. Conclusion: Older age increases the risk of OSA, but does not cause EDS. LFWBV caused an increase in the degree of sleepiness, both the high-risk and non-high-risk OSA groups. Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea, Epworth sleepiness scale, whole body vibration, Karolinska sleepiness scale.