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Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is a common disorder in the general population. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a frequent symptom in patients with OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea and its resultant EDS lead to an increased risk of deadly motor vehicle accidents. In this study the relationship between EDS and different polysomnographic variables in patients sufferinf from OSAS is evaluated. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 126 consecutive patients with OSA who underwent sleep polysomnography. Subjective sleepiness was assessed by Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Absence of EDS was defined as ESS score of<10. Polysomnographic recordings were compared in patients with and without excessive daytime sleepiness. Results: 71 patients with EDS and 55 patients without EDS were studied. Patients with EDS had lower oxygen saturation, longer total sleep time , shorter sleep latency, more total Respiratory Disturbance Index, and more total limb movement than patients without EDS(P<0.05). EDS and non-EDS patients did not differ in the sleep efficiency, sleep stage distribution and number of awakenings(P>0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is a relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness and respiratory sleep variables in polysomnography and oxygen desaturation at night. Patients with more severe daytime sleepiness are characterized by more severe nocturnal hypoxemia. Nocturnal hypoxemia may be a major determinant of EDS in OSA patients

Keywords: Polysomnography; Sleep Disorders; Sleep Apnea Syndrome; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

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