Evaluation of Sleep Disturbances in Patients with Nocturnal Epileptic Seizures

1) Background and Objectives: Epilepsy is frequently associated with sleep disturbances. In this study we aim to analyze the prevalence of sleep disorders among patients with epilepsy, with exclusively or predominantly nocturnal seizures, considering demographic factors, clinical, and electroencephalography (EEG) aspects. 2) Materials and methods: in our study were included 69 patients with nocturnal epilepsy. Sleep disturbances were measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, followed by a long-term video-EEG monitoring during sleep. We analyzed the PSQI results of our patients in relation to their gender, age, place of origin, and we determined the correlations between the PSQI scores and the modifications on video-EEG recordings. Our findings were compared to a control group of 25 epileptic subjects without nocturnal seizures. 3) Results: in our study group, the mean PSQI score was 7.36, rang-ing between 0-18. Women had higher PSQI scores than men. We examined the existence of rela-tionships between the PSQI score and certain sleep-related factors, evidenced on the nocturnal video-EEG. We found a statistically significant difference between PSQI values of patients who reached the N2 stage, respectively, the N3 stage of non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, high-lighting that those with a more superficial nocturnal sleep also had higher PSQI scores. There was a statistically significant difference between patients with fragmented sleep and those with a continuous sleep, with regard to the average values of the PSQI score. 4) Conclusions: in this study we evidenced a poor quality of sleep in patients with nocturnal epilepsy. Associated find-ings were remarkable changes in sleep architecture, and increase of daytime sleepiness.