Effect of sleeping alone on sleep quality in female bed partners of snorers

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to objectively measure the effect of sleeping alone for one night on sleep quality in female bed partners of male snorers.Females complaining of poor sleep due to snoring by their bed partner and having no known hearing loss or snoring were included in a prospective multicentre cross-sectional study. 23 females underwent one polysomnography recording while sleeping with their bed partner and another while sleeping alone. Their sleep parameters were compared between the two nights.We excluded seven couples because the female partner snored for .10% of the sleep time (n56) or had obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (n51). In the remaining 16 females, sleep time, sleep efficiency, arousal index and percentages of deep sleep (stages 3-4) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep were not significantly different between the two nights. Percentages of light sleep (non-REM stage 2) and awakening index were lower when sleeping alone (p50.023 and p50.046, respectively).Sleep quality was decreased and sleep fragmentation increased in females sleeping with male snorers. Some females had unrecognised snoring. However, our data do not suggest that objective sleep quality improves substantially in the female nonsnoring partner when she sleeps alone for one night.KEYWORDS: Bed partner, sleep apnoea syndrome, snoring S leeping with a snoring partner has been reported to increase daytime feelings of stress, depression [1] and fatigue [2], although there were no consistent changes in quality of life evaluated through questionnaires [3,4] or in daytime sleepiness [4,5]. Poor sleep quality has been reported by more than twothirds of bed partners of snorers [3]. These subjective complaints were related not only to snoring, but also to apnoeas and restlessness [3].Nonsnoring bed partners may try various methods to improve their sleep quality, such as using ear plugs or sleeping pills, or both [6]. Treatment of the snorer may bring relief to the partner. A few studies evaluated the sleep quality of those with bed partners whose sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) was treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) [1,3,4,7,8]. Improvements were noted in the nonsnoring partners' daytime sleepiness scores (which were within the normal range at baseline) and in anxiety scores, but not in depression scores, after 6-8 weeks of CPAP [1]. In one of the few studies supplying objective data, CPAP during the second half of the study night was associated with a decreased arousal index and increased sleep efficiency in the partners [8]. In a cross-over study of CPAP versus placebo for 4 weeks each, CPAP was associated with better subjective sleep quality in the partner, but no improvements were noted in quality of life or objective sleep parameters (sleep efficiency, arousal index, sleep latency, time in slow wave sleep (SWS) and time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep) [3].Some couples decide to sleep in separate rooms in order to improve their sleep quality. Among patients referred for snoring or suspected obstr...

Two in a bed: The influence of couple sleeping and chronotypes on relationship and sleep. An overview

“…Females sleeping with male snorers have decreased sleep quality and increased sleep fragmentation. However, it cannot be suggested that objective sleep quality improves substantially in the female non-snoring partner when she sleeps alone for one night (Blumen et al, 2009). In a study conducted by Ulfberg et al (2000) spouses of snorers also more frequently report sleeping problems, insomnia, daytime fatigue and sleepiness.…”

Simple snoring: Not quite so simple after all?

“…In most cases, snorers are unaware of their snoring, and it is their bedpartner who urges them to seek help due to the disruption to their own sleep and their relationship. Indeed one study showed that female partners of male snorers had objectively poorer sleep quality and increased sleep fragmentation on a night with their partner compared to a night sleeping alone (88). Further, around one half of bed-partners reported that snoring contributed to their own constant sleep disturbances on 28 almost a nightly basis, around 40% had to sleep in another bedroom weekly, and a third reported that snoring contributed to disharmony in the relationship at least from time to time in one study (89).…”

Insights into the aetiology of snoring from observational and genetic investigations in the UK Biobank (n=408,317)

“…A proportion of its heritability may be mediated through other heritable lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption which can also contribute to snoring. [7][8][9] Snoring is known to reduce sleep quality for both snorers and their sleeping partners, 10,11 reducing energy/vitality and increasing daytime anxiety, 12 risk of depression, stress, fatigue and sleepiness. 11 Here, we leverage data from the UK Biobank and an Australian sample of adults, in an effort to characterise the molecular underpinnings of habitual snoring as a complex, polygenic trait, and investigate its relationship to known correlates such as BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption.…”