Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to investigate the impact of socio demographic and clinical parameters on HrQoL. Methods: A total of 627 patients were consecutively recruited in 18 sleep laboratories in the state of Hessen, Germany. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess co-morbid disorders, depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). HrQoL was evaluated with the generic EuroQol-Instrument (EQ-5D-3L index and EQ VAS). Influencing factors were analyzed using bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The mean EQ-5D-3L index was 0.86 ± 0.19, and the mean EQ VAS score was 66.8 ± 19.3. Patients primarily reported problems in the domains of pain/discomfort (55.5%), anxiety/depression (33.5%), and usual activities (29.5%). Multivariate analyses explained 34.9% and 35.9% of the variance in the EQ VAS and the EQ-5D-3L index, respectively. Relevant predictors of HrQoL were patient age, daytime sleepiness, the presence of medical comorbidities and depression. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that depressive disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness have considerable effects on patient HrQoL and should be considered in the treatment of OSA patients to improve HrQoL.