A six-year sleep lab experience in an Egyptian University Hospital

BackgroundSleep disorders are common and the gold standard for diagnosis is through polysomnography (PSG) with standard scoring criteria. Published clinical and polysomnographic data reporting sleep disorders among Egyptian patients are lacking.AimTo study clinical and polysomnographic characteristics in Egyptian patients with suspected sleep disorders.Patients and methodsAll patients’ polysomnographic records and sleep questionnaires were reviewed from November 2006: November 2012 at the Minoufiya University Hospital Sleep Disorders Unit.Results421 patients were recruited among which 229 were males (54.4%); excessive daytime sleepiness and obesity were major features (ESS = 16, BMI = 33). Most of the patients were referred by a chest physician (81%). The most common symptoms were snoring (84.6%), witnessed apneas (78.6%), insomnia (70.9%) while the least was parasomnia (15.4%). 337 patients were diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea OSA (80%) of them, 70 (21%) had mild OSA, 75 (22%) had moderate OSA and 192 (57%) had severe OSA, The most common diseases accompanying OSA were: systemic hypertension (77%), diabetes (63%), COPD (57%), and coronary heart disease (49%).ConclusionsSleep medicine in Egypt is still lagging behind the developed world, awareness of sleep disorders among Egyptian physicians should be increased. Diabetes, HTN, IHD and COPD are the commonest predisposing factors for OSA among Egyptians especially snorers, obese and overweight patients.