Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Different studies have investigate depressive symptom degree within sleep disordered patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, little is known and unclear about OSA in patients with depression symptom in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate patients with OSA would have a higher prevalence of depression symptom relative to control patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 72 patients with OSA (AHI ≥ 5) and 24 control subjects (AHI < 5) were assessed for depression symptom using the Beck Depression Inventory. Participants were underwent an overnight polysomnography assessment. An apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5 events per hour was used as diagnosis for OSA. The associations between each total score on the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) and polysomnographic parameters were examined by correlation analysis.

RESULTS: We demonstrated that BDI scores has statistically significant correlation with the OSA in our present study according to similar previous studies (p= 0.008). Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) has correlated with BDI (r= 0.31).

CONCLUSION: These findings show that the frequency depression symptom is higher among individuals with OSA. Patients with OSA should be screened cautiously for depressive disorders.