The use of an online pictorial Epworth Sleepiness Scale in the assessment of age and gender specific differences in excessive daytime sleepiness

Conditions associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are multi-factorial, but sleep disorders are highly prevalent amongst patients with EDS (1,2). The occurrence of isolated EDS in the general population is estimated to be between 2.5% and 18%, depending on the quantification method used (3-6). However, when co-morbidity is present debilitating sleepiness may be more common and the impact on public health becomes significant (7,8)