Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and work ability

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is high in the working age population (9%in females and 24%male). Objective: To investigate the impact of OSAS on the number of days absent for illness and on work ability. Methods: Ninety-six workers with suspected OSAS were enrolled and underwent a medical examination, polysomnography test and registration of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score >10. Based on the results, the population was divided into 4 subgroups: 1. OSAS with EDS, 2. OSAS without EDS, 3. EDS no OSAS, 4. no EDS no OSAS. All subjects completed the Work Ability Index questionnaire (WAI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Visual Analogic Well-being Scale (VAWS). Results: After comparison between the 4 groups , the number of absence days was significantly increased only in the EDS no OSAS as compared with the no EDS no OSAS group (median 8 [IQR 0-2] e 1 [IQR 2-17.5] day; p=0.0035). In multivariate analysis, the presence of sleepiness was associated with an increased risk of absence from work (OR: 4.10; p = 0.005) after adjustment for age, comorbidities, HADS and VAWS. However, WAI was reduced by the presence of either OSAS [OSAS versus no OSAS (32+8 vs 38.7+6, p versus no-EDS (38.35+5.4 vs 31.83+8.7, p=0.0002)]. In multivariate analysis, both OSAS and the sleepiness were associated with reduced work ability (OR 5.22 and 4.47). Conclusions: In workers with OSAS, the increase of the number of days absence is associated with sleepiness and not with the disease, whereas working ability is associated with both illness and sleepiness.