EXCESSIVE DAYTIME SLEEPINESS AND FATIGUE IN NONAPNEIC SNORERS - IMPROVEMENT AFTER UPPP

Even in the absence of sleep apnoea, heavy snoring may be a cause of e xcessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and fatigue. The aim of this investi gation was to study whether uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is effect ive in relieving snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness in nonapnoei c snoring patients. UPPP was assessed in 155 nonapnoeic, snoring patie nts (136 men and 19 women, mean age 45 yrs). Postoperative evaluation was made after 3 months in 105 patients, and after 12 months in 50 pat ients. Fifty four patients were evaluated after both 3 and 12 months. In 49 patients, a further evaluation was made after 2 yrs. The results were compared with those of 76 conservatively-treated, nonapnoeic, sn oring patients, who were reinvestigated 12 months after their initial examination. The proportion of patients with frequent loud snoring had decreased postoperatively from 96 to 18%. A highly significant improv ement was reported in EDS and daytime fatigue. The proportion of patie nts who reported problems staying awake when driving had decreased fro m 29 to 7%, and the number who felt rested when awakening in the morni ng had increased from 23 to 78 after the operation. The patients in th e UPPP group had somewhat more severe symptoms before treatment than t hose treated conservatively. One year after treatment the situation ha d been reversed, with significantly more snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness in the conservatively treated group. In conclusion, these results indicate that UPPP is effective in relieving snoring and EDS i n nonapnoeic snorers.