Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Sleep-Disordered Breathing, Daytime Sleepiness, and Sleep Quality in Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

This study aimed to determine the long-term effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). It also investigated the relationships among these main effects, clinical characteristics, and VNS parameters. Twenty-four patients were recruited. Paired -tests and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine how the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients influenced the variables that changed significantly after VNS treatment. After VNS, the patients showed significant increases in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), apnea index, hypopnea index, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI), as well as a significant decrease in the lowest arterial oxygen saturation (SaO nadir) (