ObjectiveTo study the diagnosis value of the combination of oxygen desaturation index（ODI）and epworth sleepiness scale（ESS）score in obstructive sleep apneahypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).MethodsA total of 469 patients who complained snoring and visited our SleepDisordered Breathing Clinic Center were enrolled and divided into simple snore, slight OSAHS, moderate OSAHS, and severe OSAHS group by apnea hypopnea index (AHI).We analyzed the ESS and result of polysomography among the four groups.We then created receiver operating characteristic（ROC) curves for ODI and ESS.We also analyzed the ROC curves of ODI combined with ESS score using logistic regression and ROC curve.ResultsThe ESS,ODI,Ts90%,LSaO2,MSaO2 had statistically significant difference among four groups (all P=0.000).There were statistically significant correlation between ESS, ODI, Ts90%, LSaO2, MSaO2 and AHI (all P=0.000), while the correlation between ODI and AHI was the strongest（r=0.917）.When ODI values ≥5, 10, 15, 20 times/h respectively were used as the criteria for diagnosis of OSAHS, with the increase of ODI, sensitivity decreased, specificity increased, positive predictive value increased, while the negative predictive value decreased.When ODI≥5 times/h was chosen as OSAHS diagnostic cut off point, the sensitivity, specificity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value reached 92.8%, 82%, 97.7% and 57.7% respectively.When ODI≥5 times/h combined with ESS≥9 was chosen as the diagnostic standard, the sensitivity, specificity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value reached 92.6%, 86.0%, 98.2% and 61.4% respectively.ConclusionsODI≥5 times/h combined with ESS≥9 had the value for the diagnosis of OSAHS, therefore it could be used widely for OSAHS patients screening using family portable oximeter and ESS.