[Diurnal hypersomnolence and chronic snoring: an epidemiological study]

Excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) is highly correlated to the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). It appears that interest in such disorders may also be extended to extraneurological fields. The Authors report the results of a study on EDS in 1,146 adult subjects seen consecutively by different physicians. Excessive Somnolence during normal activity was reported in 4.5% of the subjects studied. In a subgroup of habitual snorers, EDS was observed in 8.3% of the subjects and in 2.0% in a group of non-snorers. The subjects with EDS has a mean age and body mass index (BMI) greater than those of the control group and a higher frequency of certain performance disturbances. No sex differences were found. EDS and habitual snoring had a similar age-related trend.