How it's calculated
Each of 8 everyday situations is rated 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing), and the 8 scores are summed for a total of 0-24.
Interpretation
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0-10 | Normal daytime sleepiness |
| 11-14 | Mild excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 15-17 | Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 18-24 | Severe excessive daytime sleepiness |
Clinical use
- Screens for excessive daytime sleepiness, most often used when evaluating suspected obstructive sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, or insufficient sleep.
- A score above 10 generally warrants further evaluation, including a sleep history and possibly polysomnography.
- Useful for tracking response to treatment (e.g. CPAP therapy) over time by repeating the questionnaire.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal Epworth score?
10 or below is generally considered within the normal range for daytime alertness.
Does a high Epworth score mean I have sleep apnoea?
Not necessarily — it reflects the general tendency to doze in passive situations and can be elevated by many causes of poor or insufficient sleep, not just OSA. It is a screening prompt for further evaluation, not a diagnosis.
Who developed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?
Dr Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, first published it in 1991; it remains one of the most widely used subjective sleepiness questionnaires.
References
- Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth sleepiness scale. Sleep. 1991;14(6):540-545.
- Johns MW. Reliability and factor analysis of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep. 1992.