Greek Version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale

 

 Buy Article Permissions and Reprints

Background: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire is widely used for the assessment of daytime sleepiness in patients with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS). The aim of this study was to develop a Greek version of ESS, bearing in mind that language is a barrier for application in non-English speaking populations. Methods: The forward and backward translation method by bilinguals was applied. The Greek version of ESS (ESSgr) was then administered to 130 healthy age-matched controls and 211 patients with SAHS with various levels of severity. Reproducibility of ESSgr and also the sensitivity after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment were tested. Results: Patients' and controls' ESS score was 11.3 ± 5.1 and 5.6 ± 3.2, respectively (p < 0.001). Total score and individual item score were correlated in both groups. ESSgr score was correlated with body mass index and apnea-hypopnea index (p < 0.001) but not with age. Reproducibility was tested in 29 subjects, revealing no significant difference. A significant reduction was revealed (14.1 ± 4.7 vs. 6.4 ± 3.5; p < 0.001) in 37 patients who were evaluated after CPAP treatment. Conclusions: Our data validate the ESS for application in Greek-speaking populations. Despite relevant influences of language and cultural background, ESSgr is a valuable tool for clinical management and research.

REFERENCES

• 1 Douglas N J. Excessive daytime sleepiness and the sleep apnea/hypopnoea syndrome: a major public health problem?.  Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2001;  56 64-66
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 2 Kreiger J. Clinical approach to excessive daytime sleepiness.  Sleep. 2000;  23(suppl 4) S95-S98
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 3 Jones M W. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.  Sleep. 1991;  14 540-545
  Google Scholar
• 4 Jones M W. Daytime sleepiness, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale.  Chest. 1993;  103 30-36
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 5 Bloch K E, Schoch O D, Zhang J N, Russi E W. German version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.  Respiration. 1999;  66 440-447
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 6 Chiner E, Arriero J M, Signes-Costa J, Marco J, Fuentes I. Validation of the Spanish version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in patients with a sleep apnea syndrome [in Spanish].  Arch Bronconeumol. 1999;  35 422-427
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 7 Barbe F, Pericas J, Munoz A, Finley L, Anto J, Agusti A. Automobile accidents in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.  Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;  158 18-22
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 8 Kingshott R N, Sime P J, Engleman H M, Douglas N J. Self-assessment of daytime sleepiness: patient versus partner.  Thorax. 1995;  50 994-995
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 9 Izquierdo-Vicario Y, Ramos-Platon M J, Conesa Peraleja D, Lozano-Parra A. Epworth Sleepiness Scale in a sample of the Spanish population.  Sleep. 1997;  20 676-677
  PubMedGoogle Scholar
• 10 Mesleir N, Lebrun T, Grillier-Lanoir V et al.. A French survey of 3,225 patients treated with CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea: benefits, tolerance, compliance and quality of life.  Eur Respir J. 1998;  12 185-192
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 11 Hardinge F M, Pitson D J, Stradling J R. Use of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to demonstrate response to treatment with nasal continuous positive airways pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.  Respir Med. 1995;  89 617-620
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
• 12 Chung K F. Use of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in Chinese patients with obstructive sleep apnea and normal hospital employees.  J Psychosom Res. 2000;  49 367-372
  CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Venetia TsaraM.D. Ph.D. 

Sleep Unit, GH G. Papanikolaou

P.O. Box 50603, GR54013

Thessaloniki, Greece

Email: bpn@med.auth.gr