Predictors of Depression among Individuals with OSAS: A Cross-Sectional Study from Turkiye

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is linked to depression via neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter changes, and poor sleep.
• Sleep pattern alterations may indicate depression in OSAS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in OSAS patients.
• To examine the association between depressive symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness (ES), sleep quality, and hypoxemia in OSAS.

Main Methods:

• 150 newly diagnosed OSAS patients underwent polysomnography (PSG).
• Patients completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-LF), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
• Hypoxemia was assessed by time with oxygen saturation <90% (TST 90).

Main Results:

• 84% reported poor sleep quality; 45.3% had depressive symptoms.
• Multivariate analysis identified female gender and higher PSQI scores as independent predictors of depression.
• Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and hypoxemia burden were not significant predictors.

Conclusions:

• Poor sleep quality and female gender are key predictors of depression in OSAS.
• Assessing and managing sleep quality, especially in female OSAS patients, is crucial for improving mental health.
• AHI and hypoxemia burden did not show a significant association with depression in this cohort.