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Selective activation of inflammatory pathways by intermittent hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), characterized by intermittent hypoxia/reoxygenation (IHR), is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms of this association in a translational study. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a novel in vitro model of IHR, we used HeLa cells transfected with reporter constructs and DNA binding assays for the master transcriptional regulators of the inflammatory and adaptive pathways (NFkappaB and HIF-1, respectively) to investigate underlying transcriptional events initiated by repeated cell exposure to IHR. Furthermore, we prospectively studied 19 male OSAS patients (median apnea-hypopnea frequency, 48.5 episodes per hour; interquartile range [IQR], 28.5 to 72.9) and 17 matched normal control subjects. Circulating levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the adaptive factor erythropoietin were assayed in all subjects at baseline and again after 6 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in patients. Full blood count was measured as part of a detailed baseline evaluation. HeLa cells exposed to IHR demonstrated selective activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NFkappaB (P<0.001 by ANOVA), whereas the adaptive regulator HIF-1 was not activated, as demonstrated by luciferase reporter assays and DNA binding studies. Circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were higher in OSAS patients (2.56 pg/mL; IQR, 2.01 to 3.42 pg/mL) than in control subjects (1.25 pg/mL; IQR, 0.94 to 1.87; P<0.001) but normalized with continuous positive airway pressure therapy (1.24 pg/mL; IQR, 0.78 to 2.35 pg/mL; P=0.002). In contrast, erythropoietin levels were similar throughout. Furthermore, circulating neutrophil levels were higher in OSAS patients than in control subjects, whereas the hematocrit was unaltered. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate selective activation of inflammatory over adaptive pathways in IHR and OSAS, which may be an important molecular mechanism of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Vascular reactivity in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cardiovascular disease and systemic hypertension. Because systemic arterial blood pressure is proportional to venodilation and venous return to the heart, we hypothesized that altered vascular responsiveness might exist in the veins of subjects with OSAS. We therefore investigated venodilator responses in awake, normotensive subjects with and without OSAS, using the dorsal hand vein compliance technique. Dose-response curves to bradykinin and nitroglycerin were obtained from 12 subjects with OSAS and 12 matched control subjects. Maximal dilation (E(max)) to bradykinin was significantly lower in the OSAS group (62.1% +/- 26.1%) than in the control group (94.3% +/- 10.7%) (p < 0.005). Vasodilation to nitroglycerin tended to be lower in the OSAS group (78.6% +/- 31.8%) than the control group (100.3% +/- 12.9%), but this effect did not reach statistical significance. When six of the OSAS subjects were retested after 60 d of treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), E(max) to bradykinin rose from 60.3% +/- 20. 3% to 121.4% +/- 26.9% (p < 0.01). Vasodilation to nitroglycerin also increased, but this effect did not reach statistical significance. These results demonstrate that a blunted venodilatory responsiveness to bradykinin exists in OSAS. This effect appears to be reversible with nasal CPAP therapy.

Blood Pressure↗

Local mechanisms drive genioglossus activation in obstructive sleep apnea.

Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) require increased pharyngeal muscle dilator activation during wakefulness to maintain upper airway patency. Negative pressure is one potential stimulus for this neuromuscular compensation. Individuals with OSA who have previously undergone tracheostomy provide an opportunity to study upper airway physiology in both the presence and absence of upper airway respiratory stimuli. If negative pressure (or another local airway stimulus) were important in driving pharyngeal dilator muscle activation, one would predict that during nasal breathing, the pharynx of a tracheostomized patient would be exposed to negative pressure, and that high levels of muscle activation would therefore be measured. Conversely, during breathing by the patient through the tracheal stoma, one would expect low levels of muscle activation in the absence of local stimuli. We measured a number of respiratory variables, including genioglossus activation under both nasal and tracheal stomal breathing conditions, in five patients. In all five patients there was a significant and substantial decrease in both peak phasic (100 +/- 0 to 53.4 +/- 9.2 arbitrary units [mean +/- SEM], p < 0.01) and tonic genioglossus activation (36.3 +/- 5.3 to 20.7 +/- 3.9 arbitrary units, p < 0.05) during stomal breathing as compared with nasal breathing. We conclude that local upper airway respiratory stimuli, possibly negative pressure, are important in mediating the increased pharyngeal dilator muscle activation seen in sleep apnea patients during wakefulness.

Airway Resistance↗

A cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative at-home or in-laboratory technologies for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder that affects 2% to 9% of the population. Health care policy makers have noted increased referrals for sleep studies. OBJECTIVE: In this article, the authors conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the optimal technology for the diagnosis of OSAS using polysomnography (PSG) or partial sleep monitoring (PSM). DESIGN: The target population was a hypothetical cohort of patients suspected of having OSAS. A 2-level decision tree wasformulated that reflects all possible steps of OSAS diagnosis and therapy. The method represents a comprehensive strategy to determine which of the 2 systems-PSG or PSM-has cost advantages. The financial and operational aspects of OSAS diagnosis and therapy were analyzed. A sensitivity analysis was performed over all uncertain parameters (i.e., diagnostic agreement, data loss, and referral to therapy). RESULTS: Unattended at-home sleep monitoring was the most expensive method. The combination of 1:2 PSG and attended PSM strategy was the optimal strategy with respect tofinancing and operations. Compared to the PSG-only strategy, this combination may lead to a 10% reduction of the annual expenditure. CONCLUSION: This study provides proof of concept (under a wide range of sensitivity assumptions) that the cost of sleep study techniques can be modeled. It rejects the assumption that athome portable sleep monitoring is cost advantageous. The combination of PSG and attended PSM OSAS is the most cost-effective approach to sleep evaluation.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

Cardiac troponin T in obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with nocturnal angina and ST-segment depression, which are relieved by treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). We tested the hypothesis that severe nocturnal hypoxia in patients with OSA causes myocyte necrosis as evidenced by increases in cardiac troponin T. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Cardiovascular physiology and sleep research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen male volunteers with coronary artery disease (CAD) and moderate or severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 15). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Polysomnography and measurement of serum cardiac troponin T before sleep, after 4 h of untreated OSA, and in the morning after 4 h of treatment with CPAP. The mean AHI for the group was 41 (SD 16), and the mean oxygen saturation nadir during sleep was 83% (SD 8%). All measurements of cardiac troponin T were < 0.010 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that some patients with OSA may experience nocturnal ischemia, this study shows that patients with severe OSA and coexisting CAD do not have nightly episodes of myocardial injury detectable by the current-generation cardiac troponin T assay.

Aged↗

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on soluble CD40 ligand in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. CD40-CD40 ligand interaction promotes several proinflammatory mediators and plays a pivotal role in the various stages of atherosclerotic diseases. The present study examines whether CD40 ligation contributes to outcomes in patients with OSAS. METHODS: The study population comprised OSAS patients with an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > or = 30 (n = 35) and control subjects (AHI < 5; n = 16). We measured serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) before and after nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) therapy for 3 months. RESULTS: Baseline levels of sCD40L were significantly higher in patients with OSAS (6.93 +/- 4.64 ng/mL) [mean +/- SD] than in control subjects (3.43 +/- 2.11 ng/mL, p < 0.01). Baseline levels of sCD40L positively correlated with TNF-alpha but not with hsCRP. The elevation of sCD40L was improved for 1 night after nCPAP therapy (3.83 +/- 2.78 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Even though patients with severe OSAS did not receive any other medication to control atherosclerotic risk factors for 3 months, nCPAP was continued to reduce the levels of sCD40L. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that sCD40L is a key factor that links OSAS and atherosclerotic progression.

Adult↗

Obstructive sleep apnea in children.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent albeit underdiagnosed condition in children, which if left untreated may lead to substantial morbidity. Important recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying OSA in children have been coupled with improved approaches towards the diagnosis and management of OSA. This review provides a detailed and current description of OSA in children, and focuses on the integrative elements necessary for increasing the awareness and diagnostic yield of the community practitioner.

Child↗

Evidence for lipid peroxidation in obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is associated with an increased rate of cardiovascular morbidity, which has been suggested to be related to oxidative stress. The present study investigated the concentration of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in patients with OSA in comparison with nonapneic controls and the effects of treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on these biomarkers. DESIGN: In Experiment 1, morning plasma levels of the oxidative-stress biomarkers, thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxides (PD), and of the antioxidant protective enzyme paraxonase-1 (PON1), were measured in OSA patients with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in nonapneic controls after an overnight fasting. The concentrations of the biomarkers were compared between patients and controls and were correlated with respiratory disturbance index (RDI). In Experiment 2, TBARS and PD were measured at hourly intervals during sleep in sleep-apnea patients before and after nCPAP treatment as well as in controls. PATIENTS: In the first experiment, 114 consecutive patients with sleep apnea, 55 without (+OSA/-CVD) and 59 with CVD (+OSA/+CVD), and 30 nonapneic controls were investigated. Nine patients and 6 controls participated in Experiment 2. Five of the patients were also studied 9.3 +/- 3.9 months after nCPAP treatment. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Morning levels of TBARS and PD were found to be significantly higher in both groups of OSA patients than in controls. The PON1 was lower in +OSA/+CVD patients than in controls and +OSA/-CVD patients, but the difference between the 2 OSA groups bordered on statistical significance. The concentrations of TBARS and PD were significantly positively correlated with RDI (.43, P < .0001 and .36, P < .0002, respectively), while a negative correlation was found between RDI and PON1 activity (-.24, P < .01). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that RDI was an independent significant predictor of all 3 lipid-peroxidation biomarkers. In the second experiment, nocturnal levels of TBARS and PD were significantly higher in sleep-apnea patients than in controls and were significantly lowered by nCPAP treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the existence of an increased state of oxidative stress in OSA and its possible involvement in cardiovascular morbidity.

Adult↗

[Brain haemodynamics in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated to a increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. However, it is not known the cause of this last association. In this work the authors carry out a brief review of the theories that explain the relationship between OSAS and stroke and comment the potential alterations in cerebral hemodynamics of sleep apnea syndrome patients. The results of a recent case control study show that there are relevant differences in cerebral blood flow between OSAS patients and healthy subjects even in wakefulness. This fact could help to explain why OSAS causes a higher risk for suffering ischaemic strokes.

Cerebrovascular Circulation↗

[Influence of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on response to exercise in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

UNLABELLED: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients are at risk of cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the response to symptom limited exercise test. METHODS: twenty nine OSAS patients (1 F, 28 M), mean age 50.7+/-9.7 yrs with body mass index of 32.6+/-4.5 kg/m2 participated in the study. OSAS was diagnosed by overnight polysomnography. Incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill was performed twice: before and after 2-3 weeks of regular treatment with CPAP. RESULTS: mean apnea + hypopnea index (AHI) before therapy was 57.6+/-12 h(-1). CPAP treatment did not change peak oxygen consumption (VO2max) (38.3+/-9.0 vs. 38.9+/-6.9 mlO2/kg/min, p=ns) or peak heart rate (153.4+/-21 min- vs. 155.5+/-22 min(-1), p=ns). There were no significant changes in ventilation or gas exchange variables. However, a decrease in peak systolic blood pressure from 194.5+/-24 mmHg to 186.7+/-27.9 mmHg (p<0.05) with CPAP treatment was found. During recovery a decrease in heart rate (at 1st minute and minutes 3 - 6) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (minutes 4-7) with CPAP treatment was observed. Significant correlations between VO2max and AHI (r=-0,38, p<0,05); MAP at peak exercise and: AHI, mean oxygen saturation (SaO2) during sleep, minutes of sleep with SaO2<90% (T90); MAP at recovery (minutes 3-8) and T90 before CPAP treatment were also noted. CONCLUSIONS: OSAS patients are not limited on exercise. Treatment with nasal CPAP attenuates circulatory response to incremental exercise on a treadmill.

Blood Pressure↗

[The influence of 3 weeks therapy with continuous positive airway pressure on serum leptin and homocysteine concentration in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

UNLABELLED: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most often sleep disturbance. Not treated patients have 2-3 times more risk for death because of the cardiovascular diseases. Leptin and homocysteine are the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Treatment by nCPAP has positive influence for health care and reduction of hypertension in this group. The aim of this study was to evaluate an effect of 3 weeks nCPAP therapy on a serum leptin and homocysteine concentrations in patients with OSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 48 male patients in the age x=51,2?7,5 years old, OSA was diagnosed by polisomnographic study The leptin concentration was evaluated by RIA methods (HUMAN LEPTIN RIA KIT), the homocysteine concentration was evaluated byAxis Homocysteine EIA test. Patients were treated by nCPAP during 3 weeks. Only 29 patients were effectively treated for this time. The compliance was: 5.07 +/-1.81 h RESULTS: In the group of 29 patients the serum leptin and homocysteine concentration before and after treatment were 11,05+/-5,59 ng/mL vs 11,07+/-7,16 ng/mL i 10,98+/-2,79 micromol/L vs 10,34+/-2,99 micromol/L. In the all study group the statistical important correlation between leptin and AHI, mean and minimal saturation overnight, fibrinogene concentration, BMI, WHR, waist circumference, heart rate and between homocysteine and heart rate were observed. CONCLUSIONS: 3 weeks therapy does not have any effect on leptin and homocysteine concentrations in the studied group of patients with OSA. Serum leptin concentration correlates with AHI, TMB90, as well as with mean and minimal saturation during a sleep. This indicates a potentially higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in the studied group.

Biomarkers↗

Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a disorder of sleep and breathing that is being recognized with increasing frequency. The pathophysiologic consequences range from mild sleepiness to life-threatening cardiovascular and respiratory decompensation. The primary forms of treatment are directed at modifying the upper airway with either an operation or continuous positive airway pressure. Aside from tracheostomy, which is virtually always successful, other forms of treatment have met with varying results. Ancillary therapy, including oxygen, weight loss and drugs, is often helpful but seldom curative. Follow-up sleep studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Selecting therapy for a patient with obstructive sleep apnea requires a comprehensive evaluation including polysomnography, special examinations of the upper airway and assessing the cardiopulmonary status. Therapy is based on the severity of disease and must be tailored to each patient.

Body Weight↗

Predictive diagnostic value of clinical assessment and nonlaboratory monitoring system recordings in patients with symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is of increasing importance because of its high prevalence and danger of morbidity to untreated patients. Diagnostic procedures need simplification. We evaluated the qualitative value of a stepwise diagnostic approach using clinical assessment and a home-based screening device according to current recommendations. METHODS: We investigated 114 patients with symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by means of their clinical features, questionnaire responses, four-channel nonlaboratory monitoring (NLM) and full polysomnography. Operative indices in the diagnosis of OSA were calculated. RESULTS: A significant correlation (r = 0.7: p < 0.0001) was found between the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and the respiratory disturbance index (RDI). The calculation of the difference between ODI by NLM and RDI by polysomnography showed a lack of agreement. Home-based monitoring revealed a high sensitivity (94%) but a low specificity (41%) in diagnosing OSA. However, a combination of clinical features, questionnaires and pulse oximetry achieved a specificity of 92%. CONCLUSION: Home-based monitoring provides reasonable negative predictive values in the diagnosis of OSA syndrome in symptomatic patients. It therefore qualifies as a screening method. Combined with clinical features and questionnaires it provides high positive predictive values and may therefore prove useful in simplifying diagnostic procedures.

Aged↗

[The treatment of obstructive sleep apnea].

Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may be suspected clinically, screened for by oximetry and proven by polysomnography. A sufficient number of centers performing polysomnography and providing appropriate treatment is available today in Switzerland. The patient does not need to be admitted to a university center since nearly all high altitude clinics with pneumonologic orientation are equipped to diagnose and treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The treatment of choice is nocturnal CPAP-therapy which is simple, poor in complications and well tolerated. Regular follow-up by cantonal leagues for pulmonary diseases, practising pneumologists and pneumonologic centers are, however, necessary.

Adult↗

Pulmonary hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity, including pulmonary hypertension. Little is known about factors influencing the degree of pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular dysfunction in patients with OSAS, especially in the absence of concomitant lung disease. METHODS: Right heart catheterization, arterial blood gas analysis, and pulmonary function tests were performed in 92 consecutive patients (81 men and 11 women; mean +/- SD age, 53.1 +/- 11.0 years) with polysomnographically verified OSAS, in whom clinically significant lung disease was excluded. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (20%) had mild pulmonary hypertension; 8 (44%) of them also had increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (Ppew). Left ventricular dysfunction was associated with arterial hypertension. Only Ppcw (r = 0.51; P < .001) and the percentage of time during sleep spent with an oxygen saturation below 90% (as an indicator of the severity of OSAS) (r = 0.34; P = .003) were significantly and independently associated with pulmonary artery pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can cause mild pulmonary hypertension, even in the absence of pulmonary disease. In these patients, pulmonary hypertension is of the postcapillary type, or-in patients with normal left ventricular function-strongly related to the severity of OSAS. Our findings indicate that OSAS may constitute an important, and independent, risk factor for pulmonary hypertension.

Adult↗

Sleep reactivity during acute nasal CPAP in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the readjustments of sleep macro- and microstructure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) after acute nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) treatment. BACKGROUND: The conventional polysomnographic analysis (macrostructure of sleep) does not necessarily provide the best measures of sleep disruption associated with OSAS. In contrast, microstructural methods of analyzing sleep (i.e., arousals and cyclic alternating pattern) may improve evaluation of patients with OSAS. METHOD: - Ten patients with OSAS were monitored polygraphically before and during the first night of NCPAP therapy. The results were compared with those of 10 age- and sex-matched controls without sleep-related breathing disorders. Each nocturnal recording was followed by daytime observation using the multiple sleep latency test and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: The first night of ventilatory therapy was characterized by a remarkable expansion of stages 3 and 4 and of REM sleep. In addition, NCPAP suppressed the presence of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) in REM sleep and induced an impressive rebound of arousals and of certain CAP variables-i.e., CAP rate, CAP time, number of CAP cycles-which dropped well below the physiologic values expressed by controls. A normal duration of phases A and B was re-established starting the first treatment night. When we matched sleep variables with the indices of daytime function, a significant correlation emerged only between the variations of CAP rate and VAS scores. In particular, improvement of daytime sleepiness was less evident when the ventilatory-induced drop of CAP rate was more pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: The application of CAP variables to the microstructural analysis of sleep may expand our knowledge regarding sleep and respiration.

Adult↗

Practice parameters for the use of auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure devices for titrating pressures and treating adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine report.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is used to treat patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The current standard is for an attendant technician to titrate CPAP during full polysomnography to obtain a fixed single pressure. The patient uses CPAP nightly at this fixed single pressure. Recently, devices using new technology that automatically titrate positive airway pressure (APAP) have become available. Such devices continually adjust pressure, as needed, to maintain airway patency (APAP titration). These adjustments can be made with or without attendant technician intervention. Data obtained during APAP titration can be used to provide a fixed single pressure for subsequent treatment. Alternatively, APAP devices can be used in self-adjusting mode for treatment (APAP treatment). A task force of the Standards of Practice Committee of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reviewed the available literature. Based on this review, the Standards of Practice Committee developed these practice parameters as a guide to the appropriate use of APAP. Recommendations are as follows: 1) A diagnosis of OSAS must be established by an acceptable method. 2) APAP titration and APAP treatment are not currently recommended for patients with congestive heart failure, significant lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), daytime hypoxemia and respiratory failure from any cause, or prominent nocturnal desaturation other than from OSA (e.g., obesity hypoventilation syndrome). In addition, patients who do not snore (either due to palate surgery or naturally) should not be titrated with an APAP device that relies on vibration or sound in the device's algorithm. 3) APAP devices are not currently recommended for split-night studies since none of the reviewed research studies examined this issue. 4) Certain APAP devices may be used during attended titration to identify by polysomnography a single pressure for use with standard CPAP for treatment of OSA. 5) Once an initial successful attended CPAP or APAP titration has been determined by polysomnography, certain APAP devices may be used in the self-adjusting mode for unattended treatment of patients with OSA. 6) Use of unattended APAP to either initially determine pressures for fixed CPAP or for self-adjusting APAP treatment in CPAP naïve patients is not currently established. 7) Patients being treated with fixed CPAP on the basis of APAP titration or being treated with APAP must be followed to determine treatment effectiveness and safety, and 8) a re-evaluation and, if necessary, a standard attended CPAP titration should be performed if symptoms do not resolve or the CPAP or APAP treatment otherwise appears to lack efficacy.

Equipment Design↗

Prevalence of concomitant sleep disorders in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

We determined the prevalence of concomitant sleep disorders in patients with a primary diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We retrospectively analyzed 643 patients, aged > or =18, with a primary diagnosis of OSA, evaluated by sleep specialists, in whom clinical and polysomnographic data were derived using standardized techniques by reviewing data from a standardized database and clinical charts. Concomitant sleep disorders were listed according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2000). The mean age was 48.5+/-13.5 years and 55% were male. Racial distributions were African-Americans 51.8% and Caucasian 47%. Indices of disordered breathing were respiratory disturbance index 32.4+/-30.4/h sleep and time <90% O(2) saturation 44.5+/-81.6 min. Thirty-one percent of patients had a concomitant sleep disorder. The most common were inadequate sleep hygiene (14.5%) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD, 8.1%). Of patients with other sleep disorders, 66.8% had treatment initiated for these disorders. Predictors of inadequate sleep hygiene (logistic regression) were: age (each decade OR=0.678, P=0.000000), gender (for M, OR=0.536), and the presence of at least one other major system disorder (OR=2.123, P=0.0015). Predictors of PLMD were: age (each decade OR=0.794, P=0.0005), gender (for M, OR=0.433, P=0.004), and total sleep time (for each 10 min, OR=0.972, P=0.0013). We conclude that approximately one third of patients with sleep apnea have another identifiable sleep disorder, usually requiring treatment. This suggests that practitioners evaluating and treating sleep apnea ought to be prepared to deal with other sleep disorders as well.

Female↗