Long-term health and socioeconomic outcome of obstructive sleep apnea in children and adolescents

BackgroundThere is limited information about the long-term outcome of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed in children and adolescents for educational and social factors. Here, we estimate the long-term socioeconomic outcome and health care costs of OSA.MethodsThe historical case-control cohort study included Danish individuals with OSA diagnosed in childhood or adolescence between 1994 and 2015. Health care costs and socioeconomic data were obtained from nationwide administrative and health registers. A total of 5419 were diagnosed during this period; of these we traced 1004 patients who we compared with 4085 controls (mean index age, 10.2 years; Standard Deviation (SD), 5.6 years) until the age of 20 years. Controls were matched for age, gender, and residency.ResultsComparing the OSA patient and control groups at age 20 years we found: 1) lower parental educational level; 2) significantly lower educational level also after adjustment for parental educational level; 3) lower school grade-point averages; 4) lower employment rate and lower income, which was not fully compensated when transfer payments were considered; and 5) patients' initial health care costs were higher due to higher morbidity. Patients showed higher mortality rates than controls (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 7.63, 95% CI = 4.87–11.95, P < 0.001).ConclusionsOSA in children and adolescent is associated with a significant influence on morbidity, mortality, educational level, grading, social outcome, and welfare consequences.     

Sleep time and sleep-related symptoms across two generations – results of the community-based RHINE and RHINESSA studies

Study objectivesTo analyze the association between sleep-related symptoms and sleep length in parents and their children in relation to other risk factors in both generations.MethodThe participants were parents (n = 5,855, age 54.3 ± 6.5 years, 45.2% men) who participated in the community-based Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study and one random member of their adult offspring (n = 5,855, age 30.2 ± 7.7 years, 41.5% men) who participated in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) study. Both generations responded to identical questionnaires on sleep symptoms, including difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), snoring, nocturnal sweating, nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER), sleep time and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Insomnia was defined as either, or both, DIS and DMS in combination with EDS.ResultsAll sleep variables except nocturnal sweating were more common in offspring whose parents had reported the same symptom. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, smoking, physical activity, education, center and parents' total number of children, there were independent associations between sleep symptoms in parents and offspring for DIS (adj. OR, 95% CI: 1.52, 1.20–1.93), DMS (1.34, 1.15–1.56), snoring (1.45, 1.15,1.83), nGER (1.65, 1.15–2.37), insomnia (1.39, 1.13–1.73), short sleep time (<6 h/night) (2.51, 1.72–3.68) and EDS (1.48, 1.26,1.72). There were no independent relationships between symptoms in parents and offspring for EMA, nocturnal sweating or long sleep time (>9 h/night).ConclusionThe familiar aggregation of many sleep disturbances was not explained by investigated lifestyle and environmental factors. This supports a heritable factor in sleep problems.     

循经冥想训练干预大学生抑郁情绪的效果分析

背景　现有研究表明，抑郁是影响大学生心理健康的重要原因之一。因此，有必要采取有效的方法干预大学生抑郁情绪。目的　探究循经冥想训练干预大学生抑郁情绪的效果。方法　2018年4月，在以循经冥想课题组的名义招募的某大学本科生中，发放抑郁自评量表（SDS），筛选出自愿接受循经冥想训练的60人。根据受试者性别比例，采用随机数字表法随机分为循冥组和静息组。其中循冥组30人进行4周循经冥想训练，在开始循经冥想训练前和循经冥想训练结束后填写SDS并进行E-prime情绪图片评价任务。静息组30人进行静息训练，其余与循经冥想组相同。比较两组前测、后测及前后测差值有无差异。结果　两组前测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组后测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分前测与后测差值比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。静息组前测与后测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。循冥组后测积极情绪图片评分低于前测、消极情绪图片评分高于前测（P<0.05）。两组前测SDS评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。循冥组后测SDS评分低于静息组，SDS评分前测与后测差值高于静息组（P<0.05）。循冥组和静息组后测SDS评分均低于前测（P<0.05）。结论　循经冥想能降低大学生抑郁水平，可能是由于其能够改变人的情绪认知评价和睡眠质量，使人变得平和。     

Influence of respiratory allergy and restless sleep on definite sleep bruxism: a cross-sectional clinical study

ObjectiveThis cross-sectional clinical study evaluated the associations between sociodemographic, occupational, clinical conditions, psychological and sleep quality variables on definite sleep bruxism (SB).MethodsAll records obtained from adults (aged 20–60 years) and the elderly (aged >60 years) who had undergone polysomnography (PSG) at a private medical outpatients’ clinic from July 2017 to February 2018 were reviewed. Data from a questionnaire, based on the criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), were also gathered. Definite SB data pattern distribution was analyzed, and multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess the associations between definite SB diagnosis, determined via PSG recordings, and the independent variables. A significance level of 5% was adopted.ResultsA total of 240 individuals were included in the study and the SB prevalence was 7.08% (n = 17). The adjusted Poisson regression analysis revealed association between definitive SB and individuals with respiratory allergy (PR = 3.63; 95% CI:1.01–13; P = 0.047) and restless sleep (PR = 2.97; 95% CI:1.04–8.50; P = 0.042).ConclusionThis study found associations between definite SB and clinical conditions (respiratory allergy) and sleep behavior (restless sleep). Knowledge regarding factors associated with definite SB can contribute to decision making in the clinical setting and management strategies involving a multidisciplinary approach.     

Risks of androgen therapy

Elderly men with clinical and laboratory evidence of androgen deficiency are eligible for testosterone treatment.

With proper monitoring this is acceptably safe.

In the first year of testosterone treatment there should be a digital rectal examination of the prostate and measurement of prostate specific antigen every three months, thereafter yearly.

The rate of increase of prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels is more significant than its absolute values.

Levels of haemoglobin and the haematocrit should be monitored.     

A case of nocturnal fainting: supine vasovagal syncope.

Supine loss of consciousness is a relatively rare occurrence prompting investigations for underlying causes as diverse as cardiac arrhythmia, hypoglycaemia and nocturnal epilepsy. Neurally mediated syncope is rarely implicated as the cause of symptoms in supine loss of consciousness because of the absence of orthostatic stress and gravitational relative preservation of cerebral perfusion, but we report here on a case of recurrent, atypical and troublesome vasovagal syncope occurring at night while supine. Diagnosis aided by head-up tilt table testing and conservative management brought about complete resolution of symptoms.     

Modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale in Chinese children with obstructive sleep apnea: a retrospective study

Background and objective  The purpose of this study is to assess whether Chinese children with high apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) are sleepier by a modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Materials and methods  Records were retrospectively reviewed. We included children who were between 3 and 12 years old, admitted for overnight polysomnogram because of suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). A modified ESS was used to assess excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) of the children. Results  One hundred ninety-two Chinese children were included. Children with high AHI, defined as AHI > 5.0, were sleepier than children with AHI less than or equal to 5. After adjustment by age, gender, and obesity, children with high AHI remained significantly sleepier. Modified ESS was significantly correlated with AHI (rho = 0.124, 95% CI = 0.004–0.281). Modified ESS score of >8 was the best cutoff point with the sensitivity and specificity of 0.29 and 0.91, respectively. The odds ratio of children with modified ESS > 10 having high AHI was 4.231 (95%CI = 1.248 to 14.338) and children with modified ESS > 8 had the highest odds ratio, 4.295(95%CI = 1.66 to 11.1), of having high AHI. Conclusion   Chinese children with high AHI appear to be sleepier than children with low AHI. Children with suspected OSAS and high modified ESS, i.e., ESS > 8, had significantly higher odds ratio of having high AHI. Increased sleepiness is a specific but not a sensitive symptom in snoring children with high AHI. Screening for EDS in snoring children may help us identify those with high AHI and prioritize the management of those children. All authors worked and the study was carried out in Kwong Wah Hospital in Hong Kong. There was no conflict of interest and no specific source of funding for the study.     

急性心肌梗死患者睡眠质量的临床研究

目的 对急性心肌梗死（Acute Myocardial Infarction，AMI）患者睡眠状况进行观察，研究其规律性及与心肌梗死发生、转归的关系。方法 对75例AMI患者分别进行睡眠质量观察和评估。结果 AMI患者按睡眠质量总分分组后，高得分组（≥5．06分，40例）的平均住院时间、梗死面积、合并症数目均明显高于低得分组（〈5．06分，35例），而低得分组的日常生活能力得分却明显高于高得分组（P〈0．05）。结论 AMI患者有明显的睡眠质量下降，并影响其梗死面积、合并症、日常生活活动能力和住院时间。     

Limitations of current medical treatments for depression: Disturbed circadian rhythms as a possible therapeutic target

The proportion of diagnosed depressives prescribed antidepressants has increased markedly over the last 20 years, mainly following the introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, currently available antidepressants have notable limitations, relating to their only moderate efficacy relative to placebo, relatively slow onset of action, possible withdrawal symptoms, and problems of compliance. Sleep disturbances are often used to identify newly presenting depressive patients, and may be part of a more general alteration of bodily rhythms. There are links between pharmacological treatments and circadian rhythms in depression, which might represent another, new option for the development of a therapeutic approach to depression treatment. Many antidepressants affect sleep, some are sedative, and others have been used specifically in severely insomniac depressives. Disturbances in circadian rhythms may be an integral part of depressive mechanisms, and normalising them via an innovative mechanism of antidepressant action may be a fruitful avenue in the search for improved antidepressant agents.