Abstract
PurposeIt is not easy to assess how severe and annoying a patient’s snoring is. Solid parameters are lacking; snorers cannot deliver a reliable self-assessment and it is uncertain whether bed partners’ statements can be relied upon. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate whether and how well snoring assessment based on acoustic parameters and bed partners’ reporting agree.MethodsIn a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on snoring treatment, several acoustic parameters [snoring index (SI), percentage snoring time (ST), sound pressure level, sound energy, loudness, psychoacoustic annoyance and psychoacoustic snore score (PSS)] were measured in 18 subjects during 24 polysomnographies. Bed partners also assessed snoring annoyance and loudness as well as treatment outcome.ResultsNo correlation was found between the subjective annoyance caused by snoring and the acoustic parameters. Regarding perceived loudness, there was a moderate, significant correlation with loudness (N5) and PSS over the hour with the highest SI. SI, ST, LAeq and maximum sound pressure level dB(A)max showed no significant correlation. After the intervention only mean sound energy LAeq over the entire night showed a significant correlation (rs = 0.782; p = 0.022) with bed partners’ assessments. However, this result was not confirmed in the second control night.ConclusionsThe non-existent or only weak correlation between bed partners’ ratings and objective parameters indicate that snoring severity should be evaluated with caution. Neither acoustic parameters, at least for one measurement over just one night, nor bed partners’ ratings should be used as the sole basis for snoring assessment.
Highlights
Bed partners’ symptoms are the main reason why a lot of snoring patients seek treatment [1]
In a correlation according to Spearman these results showed a significant correlation only for mean sound energy LAeq over the entire night, but no significant correlation with the other parameters
The results of the present study show, that currently common acoustic parameters and the reporting of bed partners do not deliver the same result
Summary
Bed partners’ symptoms are the main reason why a lot of snoring patients seek treatment [1]. Partners of snorers experience problems initiating and maintaining sleep, have daytime tiredness and are not refreshed in the mornings roughly twice as frequently [2]. Snoring can cause arousals in the bed partner or will even wake up the partner who has difficulty getting back to sleep [3, 4]. Troxel et al demonstrated that fewer sleep disturbances are associated with greater marital happiness, a correlation exists between sleep and relationship quality [5]. It is not surprising that over a quarter of bed partners of snorers sleep in separate bedrooms [2]. Treatment of the snorer can help to improve the partner’s quality of life as well [7]
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