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Sleep and Breathing
Published in: Sleep and Breathing 4/2016

01-12-2016 | Epidemiology • Original Article

Normative values of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), derived from a large German sample

Authors: Christian Sander, Ulrich Hegerl, Kerstin Wirkner, Nadja Walter, Rüya-Daniela Kocalevent, Katja Petrowski, Heide Glaesmer, Andreas Hinz

Published in: Sleep and Breathing | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Daytime sleepiness is associated with several medical problems. The aim of this paper is to provide normative values for one of the most often used questionnaires measuring daytime sleepiness, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Methods

A large sample of 9711 people from the German general population took part in this study. In addition to the ESS, several other questionnaires were used, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors were recorded.

Results

Normative values for the ESS are given. According to the generally accepted criterion ESS > 10, 23 % of the sample showed excessive daytime sleepiness. Males reported significantly more daytime sleepiness than females (effect size d = 0.19). In the age range of 40–80 years, a continuous decline of daytime sleepiness was observed. Psychometric properties of the ESS were good. Alcohol intake and nicotine consumption were marginally associated with daytime sleepiness, and obese people reported significantly more sleepiness than people of normal weight (OR = 1.39).

Conclusions

The normative tables allow clinicians and researchers to assess the degree of their patients’ daytime sleepiness, especially in the upper range of scores.
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Metadata
Title
Normative values of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), derived from a large German sample
Authors
Christian Sander
Ulrich Hegerl
Kerstin Wirkner
Nadja Walter
Rüya-Daniela Kocalevent
Katja Petrowski
Heide Glaesmer
Andreas Hinz
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Sleep and Breathing / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1520-9512
Electronic ISSN: 1522-1709
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-016-1363-7

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