The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is one of the most widely used sleep apnoea scales for assessing daytime sleepiness. It helps identify whether excessive sleepiness could be linked to sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or other causes of poor sleep quality.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) does not assess a person’s subjective sense of alertness or sleepiness at a specific moment, as done by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. It also does not evaluate the frequency or duration of daytime sleep episodes. Rather than acting as a checklist to identify situations where someone most often dozes, the ESS focuses on estimating Sleep Propensity Scores (SSPs) based on typical behavior. Additionally, it cannot monitor alertness or drowsiness continuously like Optalert technology can (Johns, 2008; Anderson et al, 2013).
Importantly, the ESS makes a clear distinction between reported dozing behaviors (and SSPs) and feelings of fatigue or drowsiness/sleepiness that arise from exertion. These concepts: fatigue and sleepiness, are closely linked and often mistaken for one another (Johns 2000(a), 2003, 2009; Mairesse et al, 2016).
By completing the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire, individuals can better understand their level of daytime sleepiness and discuss results with a healthcare professional for possible sleep apnoea evaluation or further testing.
