Sleep EEG microstructure is associated with neurobehavioural impairment after extended wakefulness in obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: Using quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis, we investigated sleep EEG microstructure as correlates of neurobehavioural performance after 24 h of extended wakefulness in untreated OSA.

METHODS: Eight male OSA patients underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) at baseline followed by 40 h awake with repeated performance testing (psychomotor vigilance task [PVT] and AusEd driving simulator). EEG slowing during REM and spindle density during NREM sleep were calculated using power spectral analysis and a spindle detection algorithm at frontal and central electrode sites. Correlations between sleep EEG microstructure measures and performance after 24-h awake were assessed.

RESULTS: Greater EEG slowing during REM sleep was associated with slower PVT reaction times (rho = - 0.79, p = 0.02), more PVT lapses (rho = 0.87, p = 0.005) and more AusEd crashes (rho = 0.73, p = 0.04). Decreased spindle density in NREM sleep was also associated with slower PVT reaction times (rho = 0.89, p = 0.007). Traditional PSG measures of disease severity were not consistent correlates of neurobehavioural performance in OSA.

CONCLUSIONS: Sleep EEG microstructure measures recorded during routine PSG are associated with impaired vigilance in OSA patients after sleep deprivation.

SIGNIFICANCE: Quantitative brain oscillatory (or EEG)-based measures of sleep may better reflect the deleterious effects of untreated OSA than traditional PSG metrics in at-risk individuals. Trial Registration ACTRN12606000066583.