Screening obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in hypertensive patients: a comparative study of the efficiency of the Epworth sleepiness scale

Background Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypnopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is a known factor contributing to resistant hypertension (HT). Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) is effective to decrease blood pressure (BP) in severe OSAHS. In our clinical practice, hypertensive patients seem less symptomatic with regard to severe OSAHS than normotensive patients, leading to a risk of underdiagnosis when OSAHS is screened with Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). We aimed to confirm that severe OSAHS is less symptomatic in HT patients than normotensive patients using ESS. Methods We retrospectively compared two age, gender-matched groups - 100 hypertensive patients and 100 normotensive patients - with severe OSAHS defined as an AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index) ≥30. OSAHS was considered symptomatic when ESS > 10. Results The two groups of patients did not differ significantly with respect to main characteristics including Body Mass Index (BMI), AHI and ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index). Systolic and Diastolic BP were higher in HT patients ( p < 0.01). HT patients were less symptomatic with regard to severe OSAHS with a lower ESS (10.0 vs 11.9, p < 0.01), and a lower number of patients with an ESS > 10 (30% vs 58%, p < 0.01). In multivariable analysis adjusted on age, gender, Obesity, Systolic BP, Diastolic BP, AHI and ADO, normotension was significantly associated with symptomatic OSAHS (OR = 2.83, [1.298–6.192], p < 0.01). Conclusions In our study on patients with severe OSAHS, ESS score was lower in hypertensive patients than in normotensive patients. This discrepancy may lead to an underestimation of severe OSAHS in hypertensive patients.