Discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness in adolescents

Lack of correlation between subjective and objective measurements of daytime sleepiness is common. Here, the frequency of discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness, as well as possible predictors, were examined for an adolescent cohort.

This study included pediatric patients (aged 10-18 years, n = 211) with various sleep disorder symptoms were evaluated between August 2011 and February 2021. Subjective and objective sleepiness were assessed based on eleven or more scores of the Japanese version of Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a mean sleep latency of 8.0 min or less on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, respectively. Patients were then classified as both subjectively and objectively sleepy, objectively sleepy, subjectively sleepy, and non-sleepy. Discrepancy-related factors were identified with multivariable logistic regression analysis.

The frequency of discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness was 46.4%, with 35.5% (75/211) of the patients exhibiting subjective sleepiness without objective sleepiness and 10.9% (23/211) of the patients exhibiting objective sleepiness without subjective sleepiness. Co-existence of neurodevelopmental disorders was associated more often with subjective sleepiness compared to non-sleepiness (odds ratio (OR), 4.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30 to 12.99) or concordant sleepiness (OR, 7.54; 95% CI, 2.43 to 23.38).

Nearly half of the patients exhibited discrepancy between subjective and objective sleepiness, and it more often involved subjective sleepiness. Furthermore, age, bedtime, and neurodevelopmental disorders were identified as significant factors related to subjective sleepiness without objective sleepiness.