Table 3.
Baseline characteristics of nurses between low and high Berlin scores (low vs. high OSA risk groups).
| Items |
Low score (n = 311) |
High score (n = 76) |
p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N (%) | N (%) | |||
| Anamnesis factors | ||||
| Q1 Gender | <0.001*** | |||
| Female | 247 (79%) | 46 (61%) | ||
| Male | 64 (21%) | 30 (39%) | ||
| Q2 Age (Y) | 0.0011** | |||
| 21–30 | 103 (33%) | 12 (16%) | ||
| 31–40 | 75 (24%) | 13 (17%) | ||
| 41–50 | 68 (22%) | 32 (42%) | ||
| 51–60 | 62 (20%) | 16 (21%) | ||
| >61 | 3 (1%) | 3 (4%) | ||
| Q3 BMI group (Kg/m 2 ) | <0.001*** | |||
| Underweight <18.5 | 6 (2%) | 2 (3%) | ||
| Normal weight 18.5–24.9 | 179 (58%) | 25 (33%) | ||
| Overweight 25–29.9 | 73 (23%) | 27 (36%) | ||
| Obese ≥ 30 | 53 (17%) | 22 (29%) | ||
| Q4 Smoking | 0.946 | |||
| Yes | 81 (26%) | 23 (30%) | ||
| No | 190 (61%) | 39 (51%) | ||
| Ex-smoker | 40 (135) | 14 (18%) | ||
| Q5 Neck circumference (cm) | 0.834 | |||
| <43 men/41 women | 135 (43%) | 29 (38%) | ||
| ≥43 men/41 women | 18 (6%) | 11 (14%) | ||
| Unknown | 158 (51%) | 36 (47%) | ||
| Working information | ||||
| Q6 Profession | 0.039* | |||
| Nurse | 282 (91%) | 63 (83%) | ||
| Coordinator | 22 (7%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| Executive | 1 (0%) | 6 (8%) | ||
| Other | 6 (2%) | 2 (3%) | ||
| Q7 Instruction level | 0.049* | |||
| Regional Diploma | 61 (20%) | 24 (32%) | ||
| University Diploma | 20 (6%) | 7 (9%) | ||
| Bachelor's degree | 167 (54%) | 31 (41%) | ||
| Master degree | 34 (11%) | 8 (11%) | ||
| Post-graduate | 29 (9%) | 6 (8%) | ||
| Q8 Work experience (Y): | 0.0072** | |||
| 1–5 | 118 (38%) | 12 (16%) | ||
| 6–10 | 32 (10%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| 11-15 | 29 (9%) | 2 (0%) | ||
| 16–20 | 30 (8%) | 13 (17%) | ||
| 21–25 | 27 (12%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| 26–30 | 37 (10%) | 8 (10%) | ||
| >31 | 38 (12%) | 11 (14%) | ||
| Q9 Working hours | 0.325 | |||
| Full-time | 284 (91%) | 72 (95%) | ||
| Part-time | 27 (9%) | 4 (5%) | ||
| Q10 Work shift | 0.758 | |||
| Daily shift only | 129 (41%) | 33 (43%) | ||
| 24 h shift | 182 (57%) | 43 (57%) | ||
| Q11 Work shift regularity | 0.277 | |||
| Yes | 193 (62%) | 42 (55%) | ||
| No | 118 (38%) | 34 (45%) | ||
| Clinical factors | ||||
| Q12 Previous OSA diagnosis | <0.001*** | |||
| Yes | 2 (1%) | 18 (24%) | ||
| No | 309 (99%) | 58 (76%) | ||
| Q13 Hypo/hyperthyroidism | <0.001*** | |||
| No | 265 (85%) | 60 (79%) | ||
| Yes | 46 (15%) | 16 (21%) | ||
| Q14 Arrhythmias | <0.001*** | |||
| No | 272 (87%) | 48 (63%) | ||
| Yes | 39 (13%) | 28 (37%) | ||
| Q15 Transient ischemic attack or stroke | 0.0013** | |||
| No | 310 (100%) | 71 (93%) | ||
| Yes | 1 (0%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| Q16 Diabetes mellitus | <0.001*** | |||
| No | 305 (98%) | 65 (86%) | ||
| Yes | 6 (2%) | 11 (14%) | ||
| Q17 Presence of cerebrovascular diseases | 0.022* | |||
| No | 309 (99%) | 73 (96%) | ||
| Yes | 2 (1%) | 3 (4%) | ||
| Q18 Anxiety | 0.0014** | |||
| No | 207 (66%) | 35 (46%) | ||
| Yes | 104 (33%) | 41 (54%) | ||
| Q19 Sleep disorders | <0.001*** | |||
| No | 239 (77%) | 38 (50%) | ||
| Yes | 72 (23%) | 36 (50%) | ||
| Q20 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | <0.001*** | |||
| No | 310 (100%) | 70 (92%) | ||
| Yes | 1 (0%) | 6 (8%) | ||
| Q21 Asthma | 0.0018** | |||
| No | 291 (94%) | 58 (76%) | ||
| Yes | 30 (6%) | 18 (24%) | ||
| Q22 Frequent confusion or agitation | 0.022* | |||
| No | 303 (97%) | 68 (89%) | ||
| Yes | 8 (3%) | 8 (11%) | ||
| Q23 Alcohol abuse | 0.022** | |||
| No | 308 (99%) | 71 (93%) | ||
| Yes | 3 (1%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| Q24 Drug abuse | 0.0061* | |||
| No | 307 (99%) | 71 (93%) | ||
| Yes | 4 (1%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| Q25 Depression | 0.0082* | |||
| No | 280 (90%) | 60 (79%) | ||
| Yes | 31 (10%) | 16 (21%) | ||
| Q26 Craniofacial morphological alterations | 0.66 | |||
| No | 305 (98%) | 74 (97%) | ||
| Yes | 6 (17) | 2 (3%) | ||
| Symptoms category | ||||
| Q27 Have you ever fallen asleep during an activity (e.g., during work)? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 284 (91%) | 58 (76%) | ||
| About once a week | 20 (6%) | 8 (11%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 3 (1%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| Almost every day | 3 (1%) | 3 (4%) | ||
| Several times a day | 1 (0%) | 2 (3%) | ||
| Q28 Did you have difficulty concentrating during an assignment? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 152 (49%) | 22 (29%) | ||
| About once a week | 117 (38%) | 22 (29%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 33 (11%) | 14 (18%) | ||
| Almost every day | 7 (2%) | 11 (14%) | ||
| Several times a day | 2 (1%) | 7 (9%) | ||
| Q29 Did you have to force yourself to express yourself clearly? | 0.012** | |||
| Never | 195 (63%) | 36 (47%) | ||
| About once a week | 89 (29%) | 16 (21%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 16 (5%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| Almost every day | 8 (3%) | 6 (8%) | ||
| Several times a day | 3 (1%) | 3 (3%) | ||
| Q30 Have you had to use stimulants (coffee, tea, ginseng, etc.) to stay active? | 0.0052** | |||
| Never | 132 (42%) | 21 (28%) | ||
| About once a week | 62 (20%) | 12 (16%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 29 (9%) | 13 (17%) | ||
| Almost every day | 69 (22%) | −28% | ||
| Several times a day | 19 (6%) | 9 (12%) | ||
| Q31 Have the problems reported in the previous questions interfered with your ability to work? | <0.001*** | |||
| I have not had these problems | 138 (44%) | 30 (39%) | ||
| Never | 112 (36%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| About once a week | 48 (15%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 8 (3%) | 12 (16%) | ||
| Almost every day | 4 (1%) | 3 (4%) | ||
| Several times a day | 1 (0%) | 1 (1%) | ||
| Q32 Have the problems reported in the previous questions interfered with your social relationships? | <0.001*** | |||
| I have not had these problems | 133 (43%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| Never | 104 (33%) | 27 (36%) | ||
| About once a week | 58 (19%) | 17 (22%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 9 (3%) | 11 (14%) | ||
| Almost every day | 6 (2%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| Several times a day | 1 (0%) | 1 (1%) | ||
| Q33 Have your reactions in everyday situations been slow? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 189 (61%) | 34 (45%) | ||
| About once a week | 92 (30%) | 17 (22%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 22 (7%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| Almost every day | 4 (1%) | 7 (9%) | ||
| Several times a day | 4 (1%) | 3 (4%) | ||
| Q34 Did you have to try harder than usual to keep track of what you were doing? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 169 (54%) | 26 (34%) | ||
| About once a week | 106 (34%) | 23 (30%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 19 (6%) | 14 (18%) | ||
| Almost every day | 14 (5%) | 7 (9%) | ||
| Several times a day | 3 (1%) | 6 (8%) | ||
| Q35 Did you have difficulty paying attention for a long time on a task? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 180 (58%) | 26 (34%) | ||
| About once a week | 105 (34%) | 25 (33%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 17 (5%) | 13 (17%) | ||
| Almost every day | 6 (2%) | 10 (13%) | ||
| Several times a day | 17 (5%) | 2 (3%) | ||
| Q36 Have you had difficulty paying attention to multiple tasks at once (e.g., listening to a radio program while | 0.0033** | |||
| driving a car)? | ||||
| Never | 208 (67%) | 41 (54%) | ||
| About once a week | 82 (26%) | 15 (20%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 9 (3%) | 10 (13%) | ||
| Almost every day | 12 (4%) | 8 (11%) | ||
| Several times a day | 0 | 2 (3%) | ||
| Q37 Did you have to work hard to pay attention and not make mistakes? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 165 (53%) | 26 (34%) | ||
| About once a week | 115 (37%) | 25 (33%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 16 (5%) | 12 (16%) | ||
| Almost every day | 11 (4%) | 11 (14%) | ||
| Several times a day | 4 (1%) | 2 (3%) | ||
| Q38 Did you feel the need to doze off during the course of the day? | <0.001*** | |||
| Never | 79 (25%) | 5 (7%) | ||
| About once a week | 99 (32%) | 23 (30%) | ||
| Two or three times a week | 69 (22%) | 18 (24%) | ||
| Almost every day | 61 (20%) | 27 (36%) | ||
| Several times a day | 3 (%) | 3 (4%) | ||
*
p < 0.05;
**
p < 0.01;
***
p < 0.001.
Anamnesis factors, work information, clinical status, and symptoms category were assessed. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.