A patient has a MSLT score of 8; how should this score be interpreted?

A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) score of 8 minutes indicates that the patient falls asleep relatively quickly during the test, which can be an important factor in assessing sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or excessive daytime sleepiness. In general, a normal score ranges from 10 to 20 minutes, so a score of 8 minutes suggests a noteworthy reduction in sleep latency, pointing towards potential issues with sleep regulation.

Interpreting the score in the context of sleep disorders, a score of 8 minutes would be considered indicative of excessive daytime sleepiness and could be classified as "troublesome." This designation suggests that the patient may experience significant challenges in maintaining alertness during waking hours, which could impact their daily functioning.

Understanding that the higher the score, the better the sleep latency, it becomes clear why an MSLT score of 8 is viewed with concern, warranting further evaluation and possibly intervention for the patient's sleep issues.