Screening of non-restorative sleep by quantitative EEG

Background Non-restorative sleep is the major cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and causes injures of the central nervous system . The most common cause of Excessive day sleepiness in a clinical setting is obstructive sleep apnea . Sleepiness scales can assess multiple aspects of the sleep and include subjective and objective measures. The present study aim to disclose the capability of quantitative electroencephalography to screen, as well as to know the pathogenesis of non-restorative sleep in patients with excessive day time sleepiness. Results Twenty obstructive sleep apnea patients and 20 healthy control subjects were recruited. All patients were subjected to Epworth sleepiness scale and polysomnography. Quantitative electroencephalography and Karolinska sleepiness scale were done before and after sleep for patients as well as controls. The patients group revealed a significant power reduction in delta and alpha bands, comparing before and after sleep records. Interestingly, there was a significant change in delta power in the temporal delta waves power. Yet, the changes were opposite among cases (significant decrease) versus controls (significant increase). In addition, there were significant correlations between sleepiness scales; Epworth sleepiness scale and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale scores, and alpha band results in quantitative electroencephalography. Conclusion Quantitative electroencephalography with further research, could provide us with clues to the pathogenesis of EDS and non-restorative sleep accompanying OSA and an objective screening tool.