Sleep apnoea syndromes : clinical and polysomnographic study

Sleep apnoea syndromes have been known since long, and frequently the presenting symptoms are neurological in nature. However, these disorders have not been systematically studied and reported in the Indian literature. Out of 12,000 neurology outpatients seen by authors in 2 years, 60 had primary sleep disturbances. All these 60 patients underwent clinical evaluation and video EEG polysomnography. In 8 out of 60 (13%) patients, sleep apnoea was documented. Five patients had obstructive sleep apnoea, 3 had mixed sleep apnoea and none had pure central sleep apnoea syndrome. Three-fourths of the patients were obese (mean weight 82kg) middle aged males (mean age 46.3 years). The main symptoms encountered were excessive daytime somnolence and snoring. The symptom severity was found to correspond directly with the duration of symptoms as well as obesity. Sleep apnoea syndromes must be seriously considered and documented in all patients complaining of excessive daytime somnolence.