Screening study of subjective sleep characteristics, daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea syndromе in men with arterial hypertension

Abstract

Objective. To compare the frequency, causes and characteristics of sleep disorders, the severity of daytime sleepiness in men with arterial hypertension (AH), which have risk factors, evidence of target organ damage or associated clinical conditions. Design and methods. We enrolled 158 hypertensive men (31-73 years) divided into three groups: group 1 (n = 50) with two or more risk factors for AH; group 2 (n = 52) with evidence of target organ damage; group 3 (n = 56) with associated clinical conditions. Testing was performed according to the protocol for patients with sleep disorders, including questionnaire value subjective characteristics of sleep, Russian version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, screening test of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results. Men with AH are characterized by reduction in the subjective sleep evaluation due to the multiple and disturbing dreams, increased sleep time and the number of nighttime awakenings, poor quality of sleep and morning awakening. SAS can be suspected in 54, 71 and 84 % of patients in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^d group, respectively. Patients in group 3 are more likely to complain of sleep apnea (70 %), daytime sleepiness in a relaxed state (75 %), headache in the morning (77 %), and are also more likely to have excessive and severe daytime sleepiness (20 %), anxiety (48 %) and depression (25 %). Conclusions. Patients with AH and associated clinical conditions, in contrast to patients with risk factors and target organ damage, are likely to have normal characteristics of sleep, often have nocturnal and daytime symptoms of SAS and high risk for anxiety and depressive disorders.