People with obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA, and snoring problems are not the only ones who suffer as a result of the condition. According to a study published in the journal “Sleep and Breathing,” the nightly disturbances can also cause depression in partners who share a bed with them.
The study participants had both a full-night sleep study and two sessions of a procedure called radio-frequency tissue ablation that uses microwaves to reduce the size of the tongue or the palate. There were a total of 36 participants, ranging in age from 24 to 63. All suffered from either snoring or OSA.
Short-term follow-ups within a few months indicated improvement in both patients and their bed partners scores for depression and mood. Average scores for patients and their partners on tests measuring emotional state improved by nearly three points. Patients took a PSG (Polysomnography) sleep study, and their AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index) was found to have dropped to 10.69 from 13.16. A Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition for their partners showed a decrease to 9.17 from 12.69.