•  
  •  
 

Subject Area

Neuropsychiatry

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can negatively affect patients' physical and psychological functioning, as well as their quality of life. A major consequence of OSA is impaired cognitive functioning. Indeed, several studies have shown that OSA mainly leads to deficits in executive functions, attention, and memory. Objectives To assess cognitive function in patients with sleep apnea syndrome. Patients and methods This prospective study was done on 70 patients with sleep apnea syndrome who were referred to Chest and Neurology Departments, Menoufia University Hospital, in the period from January 2021 to April 2022. The study was done after written consents from 70 patients with sleep apnea syndrome based on clinical criteria and confirmed with overnight polysomnography. They were assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment questionnaire for their cognitive function, which was classified according to severity. Results Of 70 patients with sleep apnea syndrome, 56 (80%) patients had cognitive dysfunction. The most prevalent type of cognitive dysfunction was memory and attention (30 patients) followed by visuospatial orientation, memory, attention, and language. Cognitive dysfunction was significantly higher among diabetic patients and related to severity of apnea–hypopnea index. Cognitive dysfunction had a significant negative correlation with BMI, apnea–hypopnea index, and oxygen desaturation. Conclusion Cognitive dysfunction has a high incidence in patients with sleep apnea syndrome, especially obstructive type, and in obese diabetic ones. Other studies should be done on the effect of treatment of sleep apnea on reversal of the cognitive dysfunction.

Download

Share

COinS