Obesity and sleep-disordered breathing--when two 'bad guys' meet

The Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome Revisited

SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING AND LONG-HAUL COVID-19: A CASE REPORT

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with impairment of cognitive function, and improvement is often noted with treatment. Golf is a sport that requires a range of cognitive skills. We evaluated the impact of nasal positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on the handicap index (HI) of golfers with OSAS. Golfers underwent a nocturnal polysomnogram (NPSG) to determine whether they had significant OSAS (respiratory disturbance index > 15). Twelve subjects with a positive NPSG were treated with PAP. HI, an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and sleep questionnaire (SQ) were submitted upon study entry. After 20 rounds of golf on PAP treatment, the HI was recalculated, and the questionnaires were repeated. A matched control group composed of non-OSAS subjects was studied to assess the impact of the study construct on HI, ESS, and SQ. Statistical comparisons between pre- and post-PAP treatment were calculated. The control subjects demonstrated no significant change in HI, ESS, or SQ during this study, while the OSAS group demonstrated a significant drop in average HI (11.3%, p = 0.01), ESS, (p = 0.01), and SQ (p = 0.003). Among the more skilled golfers (defined as HI ≤ 12), the average HI dropped by an even greater degree (31.5%). Average utilization of PAP was 91.4% based on data card reporting. Treatment of OSAS with PAP enhanced performance in golfers with this condition. Treatment adherence was unusually high in this study. Non-medical performance improvement may be a strong motivator for selected subjects with OSAS to seek treatment and maximize adherence.

Did the Fat Boy Snore?

Insomnia and snoring are common sleep disorders. The aim was to investigate the association of having a combination of insomnia symptoms and snoring with comorbidity and daytime sleepiness. The study population comprised 25,901 participants (16-75 years, 54.4% women) from 4 Swedish cities, who answered a postal questionnaire that contained questions on snoring, insomnia symptoms (difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep and/or early morning awakening), smoking, educational level, and respiratory and nonrespiratory disorders. Snoring was reported by 4,221 (16.2%), while 9,872 (38.1%) reported ≥ 1 insomnia symptom. A total of 2,150 (8.3%) participants reported both insomnia symptoms and snoring. The association with hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-1.6), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.4), asthma (adjusted OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.6-2.3), daytime sleepiness (adjusted OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 7.1-8.8), and the use of hypnotics (adjusted OR, 7.5; 95% CI, 6.1-9.1) was highest for the group with both insomnia symptoms and snoring. Participants with both snoring and insomnia run an increased risk of hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, daytime sleepiness, and use of hypnotics. It is important to consider snoring in patients seeking medical assistance for insomnia and, vice versa, in patients with snoring inquiring about insomnia. Hägg SA, Ilieva E, Ljunggren M, etal. The negative health effects of having a combination of snoring and insomnia. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(4):973-981.

Stridor combined with other sleep breathing disorders in multiple system atrophy: a tailored treatment?

Craniofacial abnormalities in Chinese patients with obstructive and positional sleep apnea

The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of respiratory muscle therapy (ie, oropharyngeal exercises, speech therapy, breathing exercises, wind musical instruments) compared with control therapy or no treatment in improving apnea-hypopnea index ([AHI] primary outcome), sleepiness, and other polysomnographic outcomes for patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Only randomized controlled trials with a placebo therapy or no treatment searched using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science up to November 2018 were included, and assessment of risk of bias was completed using the Cochrane Handbook. Nine studies with 394 adults and children diagnosed with mild to severe OSA were included, all assessed at high risk of bias. Eight of the 9 studies measured AHI and showed a weighted average overall AHI improvement of 39.5% versus baselines after respiratory muscle therapy. Based on our meta-analyses in adult studies, respiratory muscle therapy yielded an improvement in AHI of -7.6 events/h (95% confidence interval [CI] = -11.7 to -3.5; P ≤ .001), apnea index of -4.2 events/h (95% CI = -7.7 to -0.8; P ≤ .016), Epworth Sleepiness Scale of -2.5 of 24 (95% CI= -5.1 to -0.1; P ≤ .066), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index of -1.3 of 21 (95% CI= -2.4 to -0.2; P ≤ .026), snoring frequency (P = .044) in intervention groups compared with controls. This systematic review highlights respiratory muscle therapy as an adjunct management for OSA but further studies are needed due to limitations including the nature and small number of studies, heterogeneity of the interventions, and high risk of bias with low quality of evidence.

Sleep quality in patients studied with laboratory-based polysomnography may differ from sleep quality in patients studied at home but remains clinically relevant and important to describe. We assessed objective sleep quality and explored factors associated with poor sleep in patients undergoing laboratory-based polysomnography. We reviewed diagnostic polysomnography studies from a 10-year period at a single sleep center. Total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency (SE) were assessed as markers of sleep quality. Poor sleep was defined as TST ≤ 4 hours or SE ≤ 50%. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine associations between objective sleep quality as an outcome and multiple candidate predictors including age, sex, race, body mass index, comorbidities, severity of obstructive sleep apnea, and central nervous system medications. Among 4957 patients (age 53 ± 15 years), average TST and median SE were 5.8 hours and 79%, respectively. There were 556 (11%) and 406 (8%) patients who had poor sleep based on TST and SE, respectively. In multivariable analysis, those who were older (per 10 years: 1.48 [1.34, 1.63]), male (1.38 [1.14,1.68]), and had severe obstructive sleep apnea (1.76 [1.28, 2.43]) were more likely to have short sleep. Antidepressant use was associated with lower odds of short sleep (0.77 [0.59,1.00]). Older age (per 10 years: 1.48 [1.34, 1.62]), male sex (1.34 [1.07,1.68]), and severe obstructive sleep apnea (2.16 [1.47, 3.21]) were associated with higher odds of poor SE. We describe TST and SE from a single sleep center cohort. Multiple demographic characteristics were associated with poor objective sleep in patients during laboratory-based polysomnography. Harrison EI, Roth RH, Lobo JM, et al. Sleep time and efficiency in patients undergoing laboratory-based polysomnography. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(8):1591-1598.

Introduction: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increase risk for multiple morbidities such as cardiovascular events, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Association between SDB and incident cancer is unclear and studies that assessed this association have yielded conflicting results. Hypothesis: We systematically reviewed the literature and pooled available evidence that has associated SDP and incident cancer. Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane central library, and electronic databases were searched for relevant studies. Studies were included if: 1) they studied patients with SDB, and 2) reported rates of incident cancer. We excluded studies that reported cancers involving head and neck as we suspected reverse causation, since head and neck cancers can lead to SDP. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: From 3522 retrieved citations, 7 observational studies were included in the review. Of these, 4 studies, representing 48,152 patients with SDB and 87,849 patients without SDB, were included in the meta-analysis. In total 6931 incident cancer cases were reported (2813 in SDB group and 4118 in non-SDB group). In the pooled analysis, patients with SDB experienced higher odds of incident cancer (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.60, P = 0.01, I 2 : 75%, 4 included studies) compared to those without SDB. Data from 2 studies that assessed patients with OSA, showed that OSA increased risk for incident cancer at 5 years follow-up (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.46 - 2.45, P < 0.001, I 2 : 0%) and 8 years follow-up (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.25 - 1.88, P < 0.001, I 2 : 0%). Also, cancer risk (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.51, P = 0.003, I 2 : 21%, 2 studies) and cancer mortality (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.32 - 2.56, P = 0.003, I 2 : 0%, 2 studies) was significant only in patients with severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 30] and not in patients with mild to moderate OSA (AHI < 30). Factors namely; obesity, type of cancer, age and gender did not account for between study heterogeneity. Conclusions: SDB and OSA are associated with incident cancer. Though our study did not support the role of obesity in this association, strong mechanistic link exists, associating SDB, obesity and cancer. Future studies should assess the association between SDB and organ specific cancers.

Cardiovascular Disease and Sleep Disordered Breathing: Are Children Vulnerable?

Influence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Endothelial Function in Obese Patients: Response

From Resistant Airway to Resistant Hypertension.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Common in Patients With Sleep Apnea Rather Than Snorers Without Sleep Apnea

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is characterized by its high mortality, frequent hospitalizations, and reduced quality of life. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), one of the common comorbidities, accelerates the progression of HF.ObjectivesThe objectives of the study were (a) to investigate the prevalence and type of SDB in HF patients and (b) to determine the predictors of SDB.Materials and methodsIn a cross-sectional analytic study, all eligible patients of Assiut Chest and Cardiology Department admitted (100 patients) during the period from August 2015 to March 2016 were included in this study. Clinical assessment, full-night attended polysomnography, and echocardiography were recorded and compared between patients with (SDB) (85 patients) and those without SDB (15 patients).ResultsSDB was found in 85% of patients [53% had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 32% had central sleep apnea (CSA)]. OSA patients are characterized by higher BMI and neck and waist circumference. There was a higher prevalence of hypertension, as well as mean blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, in OSA patients. Loud snoring was the only clinical symptom associated with OSA as compared with CSA. CSA patients had a significant reduction in PaCO2. OSA patients showed a significant increase in desaturation index and time spent with oxygen saturation less than 90%. Maximum heart rate and brady/tachy index were significantly increased in OSA. Cycle length was significantly increased in CSA.ConclusionThe prevalence of sleep apnea was high in patients with stable HF (85%). OSA was the predominant type (53%). The predictors of SDB were BMI (≥30), systemic hypertension, neck circumference more than 40 cm, waist circumference more than 110 cm, and ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction) (≤45%).