Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common sleep disorder, which leads to higher morbidity, and mortality and can result in various psychological problems, such as depression.

The purpose of this study was to assess the severity of depression and to examine its relationships with coping strategies in OSAS patients.

We performed an analytical cross-sectional study of 87 recently diagnosed OSAS patients. Apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was determined by an overnight polysomnography. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Coping strategies were assessed by the brief cope.

Subjects included 38 men and 49 women averaging 55.7 years of age (SD=11.6) with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 33.8kgm−². According to the AHI, 70.1% of the patients had severe OSAS, and 16.1% had moderate OSAS. Depressive symptoms were found in 44.8% of all patients. Emotional coping was used by 72.4%, while problem-focused coping was used by 28.7% of the patients. The score of depression on HADS (HADS-D) showed positive correlation with BMI (r=0,48; P≤0.001). No significant association was found between HADS-D and AHI. Depressive symptoms were associated with more emotional coping (P=0.03) and with less problem-focused coping (P=0.002).

Our findings suggest that depression is highly prevalent among patients with OSAS, and that coping style seems to have a significant influence on emotional status in these patients. Further research should explore the possibilities of intervening on this factor, aiming to lessen depressive symptoms in OSAS patients.