Screening obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in hypertensive patients: a comparative study of the efficiency of the Epworth sleepiness scale.

Background: Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypnopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is a known factor contributing to resistant hypertension (HT). Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) is effective to decrease blood pressure (BP) in severe OSAHS. In our clinical practice, hypertensive patients seem less symptomatic with regard to severe OSAHS than normotensive patients, leading to a risk of underdiagnosis when OSAHS is screened with Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).