The association of headaches with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome diagnose at the sleep laboratory of Ebn-e-Sina hospital in Mashhad

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor of neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

2 Associate professor of neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

3 Associate professor of psychiatry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

4 Resident of neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common breathing disorder characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway collapse during sleep. While loud snoring and daytime sleepiness are the main symptoms, a variety of complaints including headaches may constitute the clinical manifestations.
  Materials and Methods: We conducted this cross sectional study on 178 adult individuals diagnosed with OSAS at the sleep laboratory of Ebn-e-Sina hospital. Overnight polysomnography provided the diagnosis of OSAS and its severity. All participants were examined by neurologist.
  Results: Headache was the forth common chief complaint. This study showed no correlation between headache and the severity of OSAS, body mass index(BMI), Sleep efficiency and hypoxia in OSAS patients; however, all of the patients with headache had anxiety or depression.
  Conclusion: According to this study, chronic headache is a common presenting complaint in patients diagnosed with OSAS. Therefore, it is recommended that sleep apnea is a diagnostic consideration in individuals suffering from chronic headache accompanied by snoring and daytime sleepiness.

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