ABSTRACT

Sleep disorders are more common in patients with epilepsy than in healthy individuals. Epileptic syndromes and antiepileptic drugs can alter the structure of sleep. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in sleep patterns between patients with epilepsy and healthy individuals using subjective tests and polysomnographic evaluation.

The determination of sleep characteristics and the presence of sleep disorders were evaluated using standard questionnaires and polysomnography in 29 patients with epilepsy and 25 controls. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were administered to assess the participants.

The mean PSQI, ESS, and ISI scores in adults with epilepsy were 12.76±8.93, 5.28±3.67, and 7.31±5.39, respectively. Lower sleep efficiency (p=0.046), decreased N1 sleep stage percentage (p=0.001), decreased rapid eye movement sleep stage percentage (p=0.001), and an increased N3 sleep stage percentage (p=0.012) were observed in patients with epilepsy. It was also noted that sleep latency was shorter in patients with epilepsy than in the control group (p=0.027).

Sleep architecture has individual variability. Age, comorbidities, medications, and sleep recording methods are some of the factors that contribute to this variability. Both the disease itself and drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy can alter the structure of sleep. Our findings were similar to other studies investigating sleep macrostructure comparing adults with epilepsy and healthy individuals. However, knowledge of how epileptic mechanisms and antiepileptic drugs affect sleep is still insufficient.

Keywords: Epilepsy, NREM sleep, REM sleep, sleep architecture