This study aimed to understand EDS prevalence, risk factors, and association with health-related quality of life in a“real-world”virtual cohort of patients with OSA. Over 30% of this sample had EDS, despite over 60% of participants self-reporting high PAP use. As expected, EDS was more common among participants with lower PAP use and those reporting less than 6 hours of sleep per night, reflecting the impacts of sub optimally treated OSA and curtailed sleep. EDS also was associated with asthma and insomnia symptoms—health conditions that may disturb sleep but are not routinely considered as EDS risk factors inpatients with OSA. The clinical impact of EDS in patients with OSA was shown by consistent, and often large magnitude, associations of EDS with HRQoL outcomes, worse well-being,greater work and activity impairment, and drowsy driving. These associations were observed in the overall sample as well as in the sample reporting high PAP adherence. Together, these results highlight that EDS is common in patients with OSA seeking education and peer support in an online community and suggest that EDS is a marker, if not a contributor, of lower HRQoL and work related impairments.
