[The assessed value of Epworth sleep scale and arousal index in severe OSAHS patients]

Objective:The aim of this study was to study the assessed value of Epworth sleep scale (ESS) and arousal index in severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients.Method:The 1193 severe OSAHS adults diagnosised by polysomnography recordings were divided into 3 groups according to ESS: the mild group (ESS≤12), the moderate group (13≤ESS≤17) and the severe group (ESS≥18). The apnea hypopnea index(AHI), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index(HI), the lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO₂), arousal index (ArI), and body mass index (BMI) were compared between each groups.Result:Significant differences were observed in ArI, AHI, AI, HI, LSaO₂ between each groups (P< 0.05). ESS and ArI were positively correlated with AHI and AI (r=0.187-0.399, P< 0.05). ESS and ArI showed a weak negative correlation with LSaO2 and HI (r=－0.14-－0.448, P< 0.05).Conclusion:ArI and ESS are important indexes to evaluate the severity of severe OSAHS patients.