Difference in spectral power density of sleep EEG between patients with simple snoring and those with obstructive sleep apnoea

Jae Myeong Kang,Seung-Gul Kang,Seo-Eun Cho,John W Winkelman,Seon Tae Kim,Kee Hyung Park,Sara Mariani

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-62915-x

Abstract

Patients with simple snoring (SS) often complain of poor sleep quality despite a normal apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI). We aimed to identify the difference in power spectral density of electroencephalography (EEG) between patients with SS and those with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We compared the absolute power spectral density values of standard EEG frequency bands between the SS (n = 42) and OSA (n = 129) groups during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep period, after controlling for age and sex. We also analysed partial correlation between AHI and the absolute values of the EEG frequency bands. The absolute power spectral density values in the beta and delta bands were higher in the OSA group than in the SS group. AHI also positively correlated with beta power in the OSA group as well as in the combined group (OSA + SS). In conclusion, higher delta and beta power during NREM sleep were found in the OSA group than in the SS group, and beta power was correlated with AHI. These findings are microstructural characteristics of sleep-related breathing disorders.

Highlights

Patients with simple snoring (SS) often complain of poor sleep quality despite a normal apnoeahypopnoea index (AHI)
There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age and sex
The groups differed in body mass index (BMI), AHI, and arousal index and all values were higher in the obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) group than in the SS group

Summary

Introduction

Patients with simple snoring (SS) often complain of poor sleep quality despite a normal apnoeahypopnoea index (AHI). We aimed to identify the difference in power spectral density of electroencephalography (EEG) between patients with SS and those with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We compared the absolute power spectral density values of standard EEG frequency bands between the SS (n = 42) and OSA (n = 129) groups during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep period, after controlling for age and sex. The absolute power spectral density values in the beta and delta bands were higher in the OSA group than in the SS group. Higher delta and beta power during NREM sleep were found in the OSA group than in the SS group, and beta power was correlated with AHI. These findings are microstructural characteristics of sleep-related breathing disorders. Years Sex, male Body mass index, kg/m2 Polysomnographic data Sleep and wake time Time in bed, min Total sleep time, min Sleep latency, min Sleep efficiency, % WASO, min REM sleep latency, min Sleep stage, % N1 N2 N3 R Respiration AHI, event per hour Arousal index

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