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Risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome among in-patients at a neuropsychiatric hospital in Nigeria: a short report


OJ Bawo
FI Chinwe
OA Atim

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Sleep problems are commonly reported by persons with severe mental  illness. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) is commonly co-morbid with mental illness. Screening for OSA and its subsequent management may improve outcomes in this patient population. We screened for risk of OSA among in-patients with severe mental illness to determine its prevalence as well as its correlates using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Berlin questionnaire
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive exploratory survey of in-patients (n=89) at a regional Neuro- Psychiatric hospital using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Berlin questionnaire.
Results: Eighteen patients (18/89; 20.9%) were classed as high risk for OSA. High risk for OSA was  significantly associated with a higher body mass index; BMI (p<0.01), but not gender (p=0.53), diagnoses (p=0.84), co-morbidity (p=0.73) or use of atypical antipsychotics (p=0.48).
Conclusion: Patients with severe mental illness are at high risk for OSA with being overweight higher BMI significantly associated with this high risk.


Keywords: obstructive sleep apnoea; severe mental illness; Nigeria, in-patients


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eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905