Afternoon serum-melatonin in sleep disordered breathing

OBJECTIVES: To study afternoon serum-melatonin values in patients with sleep disordered breathing. Melatonin has a strong circadian rhythm with high values during the night-time and low values in the afternoon. Sleep disordered breathing may change the circadian rhythm of melatonin which may have diagnostic implications. SETTING: The Sleep Laboratory, The Department of Internal Medicine, Avesta Hospital, Sweden, and the Department of Anaesthesiology, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. SUBJECTS: We examined 60 consecutive patients admitted for sleep disordered breathing and 10 healthy non snoring controls. The patients underwent a sleep apnoea screening test having a specificity of 100% for the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) using a combination of static charge sensitive bed and oximetry. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome was found in 49 patients, eight patients had borderline sleep disordered breathing (BSDB) and three patients were excluded due to interfering disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients and controls had an afternoon determination of serum-melatonin. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to score day-time sleepiness. RESULTS: In comparison with normal controls patients suffering from OSAS had significantly higher serum-melatonin levels in the afternoon. However, as a diagnostic test for OSAS in patients with sleep disordered breathing serum-melatonin showed a low sensitivity but a high specificity. The results indicate that breathing disorders during sleep in general affect pineal function. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disordered breathing seems to disturb pineal function. Determination of afternoon serum-melatonin alone or together with a scoring of daytime sleepiness does not identify OSAS-patients in a heterogeneous population of patients complaining of heavy snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.     

Obstructive sleep disordered breathing in children: beyond adenotonsillectomy

Traditionally, adenotonsillectomy (AT) has long been the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children. AT is usually considered a safe procedure, which cures 80% of children with SDB. Accumulated data have however challenged this overly simplistic view. Indeed, AT is invariably associated with significant morbidity, post-operative pain, and a mortality rate which, though low, cannot be ignored. In addition, aside from a recurrence of SDB at adolescence in an unknown percentage of cases, some recent results suggest that complete SDB cure is not achieved in as much as 75% of cases after AT. Interestingly, several treatment options have been recently proposed for replacing or complementing AT. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is now suggested in children with remaining SDB after AT; however, compliance and suitability of equipment remain important hurdles, especially in small children and infants. Anti-inflammatory treatments, including nasal glucocorticoids and/or the anti-leukotriene montelukast, appear to hold great promise. Finally, orthodontic treatments are an appealing option, with recent results in children suggesting that it is possible to improve or perhaps even cure SDB in a durable manner by enlarging the nasal passages and/or the oropharyngeal airspace. In conclusion, while we are currently in the midst of an exciting time with several new treatments being developed for childhood SDB, randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to delineate their indications. In the meantime, it appears that systematic detection of orthodontic anomalies and better collaboration with maxillofacial specialists, including orthodontists and/or dentists, is needed for deciding the best treatment options for childhood SDB.     

Prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in a heart failure program

Recent data show that a high percentage of patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction have sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), contributing to the incidence of morbidity and mortality in heart failure. This study examines the prevalence of sleep disorders in stable heart failure patients regardless of ejection fraction. On three consecutive days in a heart failure clinic, all patients were asked to participate in a screening for SDB. This screening involved the placement of an outpatient device (ClearPath, Nexan, Inc., Alpharetta, GA), which collects thoracic impedance, oxyhemoglobin saturation, and 2-lead electrocardiogram data. Sixteen patients (42%) had moderate or severe SDB, and 22 patients (55%) had mild or no significant SDB. Fourteen of the 16 patients with moderate or severe SDB subsequently received treatment by confirming SDB and the continuous positive airway pressure in a sleep lab. Forty-two percent of patients with stable heart failure presenting to a heart failure clinic screened positive for SDB, despite receiving optimal standard of care.     

A 3-year longitudinal study of sleep disordered breathing in the elderly

Limited and controversial data exist on the natural evolution of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in untreated individuals. This study examines the evolution of SDB over a 3-yr period in a community-based sample of elderly subjects. From the initial cohort of 854 healthy subjects aged mean±sd 68.4±0.8 yrs, 519 untreated subjects accepted clinical and instrumental follow-up 3.6±1.6 yrs later. SDB was defined as a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) >15 events·h(-1). At baseline, 202 (39%) subjects had an RDI ≤15 events·h(-1) and 317 (61%) had an RDI >15 events·h(-1). 3 yrs later, 280 (54%) subjects were non-SDB and 239 (46%) had SDB. Between evaluations, the RDI decreased from 22.3±16.2 to 16.4±13.0 events·h(-1), with a greater decrease in the number of cases with an RDI >30 events·h(-1) that in those with RDI ≥30 events·h(-1). In the non-SDB group, 81% had a stable RDI and 19% increased their RDI by a mean of 13.7 events·h(-1). In the SDB group, the RDI decreased to values ≤15 events·h(-1) in 36.6% of cases, 63.4% still having SDB. The RDI changes did not depend on weight changes. In healthy elderly subjects, the prevalence and severity of SDB did not show a tendency toward natural worsening, some cases having improvement or a remission independent of weight changes. These findings also suggest that in the elderly, natural SDB progression is still hypothetical.     

整合医学观念倡导睡眠呼吸障碍综合征的多学科协作

目前,临床医学学科的划分越来越细,多以疾病种类及诊疗手段等划分为不同专科,这种学科的划分确实对医学的发展起到了巨大的推动作用,然而过细的分科存在很大的局限性.首先,人体是一个有机的整体,将其人为地、机械地割裂为许多互不联系的孤立局部,不利于医生对患者整体状态的把握和综合处理能力的培养.     

睡眠呼吸障碍对高血压患者血尿酸的影响

目的:了解住院高血压患者中睡眠呼吸障碍(sleepdisorderedbreathing,SDB)的患病情况及对肾功能的影响。方法:对107例高血压患者行随机的床旁EMBLETTA9导联睡眠HOLTER诊断,监测8h的睡眠,筛选出SDB患者,分组分析血肌酐、尿酸、电解质等指标。结果:81例合并SDB,患病率75·7%,其中男性患病率82·0%,女性患病率67·4%。合并SDB的高血压患者血尿酸水平明显增高,而血肌酐水平、肌酐清除率无明显差异。结论:高血压住院患者中SDB患病率明显高于一般人群;合并SDB的高血压患者血尿酸水平明显增高。     

CPAP treatment in REM-related obstructive sleep apnea: a distinct clinical phenotype of sleep disordered breathing

Sleep and Breathing - REM-related obstructive sleep apnea (REM-OSA), as defined using revised apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) criteria, might represent a specific OSA phenotype. However, there is a lack...     

Autonomic dysfunction in children with sleep disordered breathing

Purpose

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) has adverse effects on cardiovascular health in adults, partly due to changes in autonomic activity. However, there have been limited studies in children. We analysed the impact of SDB and sleep stage on autonomic control of heart rate in 7–12-year-old children, utilizing spectral heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure of autonomic activity.

Methods

Eighty children underwent overnight polysomnography. Subjects were grouped according to their obstructive apnoea–hypopnoea index (OAHI): controls, OAHI ≤1 event/h and no history of snoring; primary snorers (PS) OAHI ≤1, Mild (OAHI 1–5) and moderate/severe (MS) OAHI >5. HRV was analysed during Wake, nonrapid eye movement (NREM) 1&2, slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM.

Results

Compared with controls, total power, low (LF) and high frequency (HF) power were reduced in all SDB severities during REM. LF/HF ratio was less in MS SDB (median?=?0.34; range, 0.20–0.49; p?<?0.05) versus controls (0.38; 0.26–0.55; p?<?0.05) and PS (0.39; 0.23–0.57; p?<?0.05) during SWS. In all groups, total power, LF and HF power were highest during NREM 1&2 while LF/HF ratio was lowest during SWS. Blood pressure was elevated in SDB in all sleep states.

Conclusions

HRV was altered in 7–12-year-old children with SDB, which may signify an overall depression of autonomic tone, perhaps a consequence of their elevated blood pressure during sleep coupled with repeated exposure to SDB event-related cardiovascular disturbance. Further research is warranted to elucidate the long-term effects on the cardiovascular system of subjects exhibiting impaired HRV and elevated BP in childhood.     

Treatment of sleep disordered breathing in congestive heart failure

In patients with congestive heart failure, sleep disordered breathing occurs commonly and is associated with an increased mortality. In addition to central sleep apnea (Cheyne–Stokes respiration), obstructive sleep apnea is more prevalent in patients with congestive heart failure than in the general population. As a result, a number of treatments have been investigated, with varying results. While many therapies may improve the severity of sleep disordered breathing, only positive pressure ventilation has been shown to improve cardiac function. Newer forms of positive pressure ventilation, such as adaptive servo-ventilation, appear to be even more effective at correcting central sleep apnea. Whether any of these treatments have an effect on transplant-free survival is presently unknown and awaits further study.     

Prevalence of risk factors for atrial fibrillation and stroke among 1210 patients with sleep disordered breathing

Aims

This study sought to identify the prevalence of risk factors for atrial fibrillation and stroke in a sleep apnea population.

Methods

Study participants included 1210 consecutive adults who were referred with suspicion of sleep apnea. Statistical analysis was used to determine the relationship between sleep apnea syndrome and risk factors for atrial fibrillation and stroke.

Results

Among 1210 enrolled patients, 65.8% had severe sleep apnea (Apnea/hypopnea Index — AHI > 30), 25.2% had mild to moderate sleep apnea (AHI 5 to 30), and 8.8% had no sleep apnea (AHI < 5). At baseline, the mean apnea–hypopnea index in patients with sleep apnea syndrome was 35. Compared to patients with an AHI < 5, those with an AHI > 30 were older (47.3 ± 11.4 vs. 52.74 ± 12.4, p < 0.001) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (30.7 ± 7.3 vs. 33.83 ± 10.1, p < 0.001), a higher prevalence of hypertension (38 vs. 16%, p < 0.001), and a higher CHADS₂ (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes and prior stroke) score (0.59 ± 0.8 vs. 0.28 ± 0.64, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Patients with severe sleep apnea have a higher prevalence of risk factors for atrial fibrillation and stroke when compared with subjects without sleep apnea.     

Prevalence of sleep disturbances: Sleep disordered breathing,short sleep duration,and non-restorative sleep

Recently, interest in sleep disturbances, such as sleep disordered breathing (SDB), short sleep duration, and non-restorative sleep (NRS), has been increasing. The potentially large public health implications of sleep disturbances indicate a need to determine their prevalence in a general population. This review describes the characteristics of population-based sleep cohorts from past to present. Unavoidable methodological and baseline characteristic heterogeneity was found between studies. The prevalence of SDB (apnea hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), or oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥5/h) was 24.0–83.8% in men and 9.0–76.6% in women, and that of moderate-to-severe SDB (AHI, RDI, or ODI ≥15/h) was 7.2–67.2% in men and 4.0–50.9% in women. Additionally, the prevalence of SDB in post-menopausal women was 3–6 times higher than in pre-menopausal women. The prevalence of subjective short sleep duration (<6 h) was 7.5–9.6%, while that of objective short sleep duration (<6 h) was 22.1–53.3%. The prevalence of NRS was 19.2–31.0% in men and 26.3–42.1% in women, as determined from studies using a yes-no questionnaire, while a multi-national survey using a telephone-based expert system showed a wide range of prevalence between countries, from 2.4% to 16.1%. An association between SDB, short sleep duration, and NRS has recently been suggested. To gain a better understanding of the burden of sleep disturbances, a consensus on the definition of several sleep disturbances is needed, as methodological heterogeneity exists, including SDB scoring rules, subjective versus objective data collection for short sleep duration, and the definition of NRS itself.     

无创正压通气在睡眠呼吸障碍疾病中的应用

上气道正压通气(Positive airway pressure,PAP)治疗睡眠呼吸障碍疾病(sleep disordered breathing,SDB)始于1981年.简单的PAP是通过一个与面部直接接触的柔软鼻面罩,外连软管至空气压缩机进行工作的.     

Management of the hospitalized patient with sleep disordered breathing

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) frequently comes to medical attention for the first time when patients are hospitalized for diagnosis and treatment of an associated condition (eg, poorly controlled hypertension, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, or problems related to management of diabetes mellitus). Diagnosis of SDB is generally performed in a specialized facility, which is often inconvenient and expensive for the hospitalized patient. Expectant perioperative management of patients with sleep apnea is critical, particularly if they are previously undiagnosed. An ideal diagnostic strategy for these patients has not been defined. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the mainstay of treatment of patients with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, it is often difficult for very ill patients to tolerate CPAP, unless it is administered with a high level of expertise.     

睡眠呼吸紊乱患者的警觉性测定

目的检测几种临床常见的睡眠呼吸紊乱患者的警觉性是否受损。方法前瞻性地对因疑诊而接受全晚睡眠监测的患者,在监测前（傍晚）和监测后（早上）,利用电脑模拟开车试验,以碰撞障碍物的百分率,衡量其警觉性。以等级方差分析检验各组间早晚平均碰撞率（％Ｈｍ）的差异,并将％Ｈｍ与睡眠监测有关参数作等级相关分析。结果正常人和按诊断分组后患者的％Ｈｍ［以中位数（范围）表示］为：正常人（１１名）０．６（０～２．５）;睡眠鼾症（７例）１．１（０．２～２．０）;阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（ＯＳＡＳ,２２例）２．２（０．２～７．７）;中枢性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（ＣＳＡＳ,６例）２．７（０．９～５．４）。除睡眠鼾症组外,各组患者％Ｈｍ均高于正常人（Ｐ＜０．０５）。正常、睡眠鼾症及ＯＳＡＳ三组合并分析表明：％Ｈｍ与睡眠累计低血氧饱和度时间％有相关性（ｒ＝０．４１,Ｐ＜０．０５）而与呼吸停顿／低呼吸指数和觉醒指数无明显相关（ｒ分别为０．２２和０．１０,Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论ＯＳＡＳ和ＣＳＡＳ患者的警觉性下降,睡眠鼾症患者的警觉性大致正常。警觉性受损可能与睡眠时缺氧有关