Abstract

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is one of the major clinical presentations of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affecting 18% of the world population. There are multiple factors that stimulate daytime sleepiness. EDS is one of the least understood symptoms and the majority of people remain undiagnosed in society. EDS increases in the geriatric population due to multiple factors such as obesity, various medical conditions as well as mental and emotional stress. People have EDS even more in developed countries due to the increased elderly population in the past few decades. EDS is one of the leading causes of impaired quality of life and motor vehicle crashes. The United States alone accounts for 2.4 to 3.9million commercial drivers who are likely to have OSA andmost remain undiagnosed. According to multiple independent studies, the risk of motor vehicle accidents was increased among those with untreated OSA. To reduce long-term complications and improve the quality of life, factors influencing EDS need to be identified. Multiple methods are available for screening and identifying the cause of EDS in an individual with OSA. One of the most effective tools for diagnosing OSA is a good questionnaire; and a polysomnography test. The main purpose of this study is to gain a clear understanding of factors influencing EDS, thus enabling clinicians to treat individuals in a timely manner.