Influence of nocturnal insomnia symptoms on obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis in a clinical referral cohort

Abstract

Study Objectives: To assess whether nocturnal symptoms of insomnia influence the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a clinical referral cohort. Methods: Insomnia was defined by the presence of 1 or more of the following complaints: difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, and/or early morning awakenings. OSA severity was based on an apnea-hypopnea index: ≥ 5.0 events/h (any OSA), ≥ 15.0 events/h (moderate/severe OSA), and ≥ 30 events/h (severe OSA). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate predictive factors for OSA diagnosis and severity. Results: Overall, 12,021 outpatients referred for polysomnography were grouped into 2 cohorts: without insomnia (58.2%) and with insomnia (41.8%). Individuals without insomnia had a higher prevalence of OSA than those with insomnia (P