La Sindrome delle Apnee Ostruttive del Sonno (OSAS) e i disturbi dell’umore in una popolazione di autotrasportatori
Maria Ruberto, F. Liotti
Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale - Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro, Igiene e
Tossicologia Industriale- Seconda Universit� degli Studi di Napoli
Abstract
�Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) and mood disorders in a population of public transport drivers�.
Background: A growing number of reports pinpoint the high prevalence of
mood disorders in OSAS patients. The aim of the study was to verify the
presence of depressive mood disorders and their relationship with OSAS
in a population of public transport drivers. Methods: 164 city bus
drivers underwent an anthropometric and biochemical assessment,
administration of ESS and Zung Scale questionnaires and
cardio-respiratory polysomnography (PSG). The data were compared with a
matched control group of 171 subjects. Results: The two groups of
subjects differed as regards BMI (p<0.001), neck circumference
(p<0.001), fasting plasma glucose (p<0.001), basal insulin
(p<0.001) and HOMA index (p<0.001), degree of daytime sleepiness
(p<0.001) and Zung scale score (p<0.001). PSG revealed
significant differences in AHI (p<0001), ODI (p<0001), in the
absolute and mean values of the nadir of the ODI (for both p<0001),
in total sleep time with O2 saturation level values <90%
(p<0.001) and <80% (p<0.001). Pearson’s correlation analysis
showed a linear relationship between AHI and Zung scale (r=0.75,
p=0.000) and between ODI and ESS (r=0.59, p=0.000). Conclusions: The
role of sleep-related breathing disorders in mood modulation is well
known from the literature. Our results highlight the relationship
between OSAS and mood lowering in urban bus drivers, suggesting the
need for a multidisciplinary approach to assess the health of this
occupational group, including assessment of any sleep disorders, with
particular reference to those of a respiratory nature.