This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wells, R. D. Articles by Duntley, S. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wells, R. D. Articles by Duntley, S. P. Related Collections Depression Sleep and Biological Rhythms

Depression Predicts Self-reported Sleep Quality in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

From the Departments of Psychology (R.D.W., R.C.D.), Psychiatry (R.M.C., K.E.F.), and Neurology (S.P.D.), Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Rachel D. Wells, MA, Department of Psychology, Washington University; One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1125, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899. E-mail: rdwells{at}artsci.wustl.edu

OBJECTIVE: Depression is a common problem in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The objective of this study was to examine whether depression is independently associated with lower self-reported sleep quality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), after controlling for polysomnographic measures of sleep.

METHODS: The sample comprised 135 patients who had been referred to a university teaching hospital’s multidisciplinary sleep medicine center for polysomnographic evaluation of OSA. The median age of the subjects was 45 (mean age, 46 years) 55% were female, 69% were white, 31% were black, and their mean body mass index was 37.9 ± 11.2 kg/m². Self-reported sleep quality during the past 2 weeks was assessed by the insomnia severity index. Polygraphic measures of sleep quality included the respiratory disturbance index, sleep onset latency, arousals for no apparent reason, sleep efficiency, and periodic leg movements associated with arousal. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS: None of the polygraphic measures of sleep quality was related to self-reported sleep quality or depression. Oxygen desaturation was correlated with self-reported sleep quality (r = 0.21, p = .02). Depression correlated with self-reported sleep quality (r = 0.55, p < .0001). In a multiple regression analysis, depression remained a significant predictor of self-reported sleep quality after controlling for all of the polysomnographic measures of sleep quality (F = 9.65, partial r² = 0.28 p = .0001).

CONCLUSION: Depression is a better predictor of self-reported sleep quality than are polysomnographic measures of sleep in patients with OSA.

Key Words: sleep apnea syndromes, • sleep apnea, • obstructive, • depression, • mood disorders, • sleep, • polysomnography.

Abbreviations: AFNAR = arousals for no apparent reason;; BDI = Beck Depression Inventory;; BMI = body mass index;; CPAP = continuous positive air pressure;; HSC = Human Studies Committee;; ISI = Insomnia Severity Index;; OSA = obstructive sleep apnea;; PLMA = periodic limb movements associated with arousal;; PSG = polysomnography;; RDI = Respiratory Disturbance Index;; REM = rapid eye movement;; SOL = sleep onset latency.