Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Sleepiness, fatigue, tiredness, and lack of energy in obstructive sleep apnea
1Sleep Disorders Center and Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0117, USA. chervin@umich.edu
Study Objectives:
Sleepiness is a key symptom in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and can be objectively assessed with a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). We studied the terms that patients prefer to describe their symptoms-sleepiness, fatigue, tiredness, or lack of energy-and how these terms relate to objective findings.
Design:
Observational.
Setting:
University-based sleep laboratory.
Patients:
Consecutive OSAS patients referred for diagnostic polysomnography and an MSLT.
Methods:
Data were obtained from sleep studies and questionnaires.
Results:
Subjects included 117 men and 73 women, with a mean (+/- SD) age of 49 +/- 13 years, an apnea and hypopnea rate of 32 +/- 28/h of sleep, and an MSLT mean sleep latency of 7 +/- 5 min. Subjects more frequently reported problems with fatigue, tiredness, and lack of energy than sleepiness (57%, 61%, and 62% vs 47%). When required to select the one most significant symptom, more patients chose lack of energy (about 40%) than any other problem, including sleepiness (about 22%). Objective measures of sleepiness and apnea severity showed little or no association with any symptom, but female gender showed significant associations with each.
Conclusions:
Complaints of fatigue, tiredness, or lack of energy may be as important as that of sleepiness to OSAS patients, among whom women appear to have all such complaints more frequently than men. The diagnosis of OSAS should not be excluded based only on a person's tendency to emphasize fatigue, tiredness, or lack of energy more than sleepiness.
More Related Videos
05:34Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2023
04:53Acupoint Application Combined with Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: October 18, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Narcolepsy