Association between excessive daytime sleepiness, REM phenotype and severity of obstructive sleep apnea

The aim of the study was to compare REM-dependent and REM-independent, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) patients in relation to their daily sleepiness assessed by Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). The study included 1863 consecutive patients, who were referred to a sleep centre with a presumed diagnosis of OSA. Following polysomnography, 292 patients fulfilled criteria for either REM-dependent OSA (REM-OSA, n = 102) or REM-independent OSA (nREM-OSA, n = 190). Both study groups were matched regarding sex and age. REM-OSA group had two times lower median apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) compared to nREM-OSA (p < 0.001), yet day-time sleepiness measured by ESS was similar: median score 9.0 (6.0–11.0) and 8.0 (4.8–11.0), p = 0.109, respectively. Subsequent post-hoc ANCOVA analysis, with covariates (BMI, percent of total sleep time spent in REM stage, percent of total sleep time spent in the supine position), has shown statistically significant difference between study groups regarding AHI (p < 0.001) and no difference regarding ESS score (p = 0.063). Despite two times lower AHI, patients with REM-OSA present with similar day-time sleepiness as those with REM independent OSA. Daily sleepiness may be stronger associated with apneas/hypopneas occurring in REM than nREM sleep.