Excessive daytime sleepiness in temporomandibular disorder patients

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and associated factors in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients.

Methods: Medical records of 350 TMD patients were collected. The EDS status was measured by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). TMD patients were classified according to ESS scores into TMD patients with EDS (ESS ≥10) and without EDS (ESS <10). The relationship between EDS status and associated factors, such as demographic, TMD symptom severity, and psychological status was analyzed using chi-square and t-test. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.

Results: Approximately 28.57% of TMD patients presented with EDS. These patients possessed a significantly higher level of TMD symptom severity, stress, anxiety, and depression, compared to TMD patients without EDS.

Discussion: TMD patients with EDS distinctively suffer both physically and psychologically. This warrants further investigation for the causes and effects as well as underlying mechanisms of EDS in TMD.

KEYWORDS:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• temporomandibular disorders
• Epworth Sleepiness Scale
• sleep-disordered breathing
• anxiety
• depression
• stress
• symptom severity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the dental students, Yanika Saengthakoeng, Thipkanya Khunthothom, Mayvadee Apirugnunchai, Supattra Kasipongpaisan, Sookwasa Hirunmekavanich and staffs from the Masticatory Science Clinic (Orofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Medicine Center), Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, for their invaluable assistance.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest related with this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding for this research.