Effects of CPAP treatment on psychological status in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing on the emotional status and cognitive function in 20 patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) (mean +/- SD apnoea/hypopnoea index = 67 +/- 16, mean overnight arterial oxygen saturation = 83 +/- 10%). Psychological tests were performed before, after three, and after twelve months of CPAP treatment. At initial investigation, amongst cognitive functions, the most disturbed were concentration and recent memory. The majority of subjects demonstrated increased mental stress, depression, and anxiety. Anxiety correlated with AHI (r = 0.68). Mental stress correlated with AHI (r = 0.56) and deficiency of Stage 2 NREM sleep (r = -0.55). CPAP treatment resulted in significant improvement in cognitive function; concentration, recent verbal, visual and spatial memory were already seen at three months. No improvement in IQ and in emotional status after three months and one year of treatment was found. It is concluded that in patients with severe OSA CPAP treatment results in a significant early improvement in cognitive function but not in emotional status.

[Pulmonary circulation at rest and during exercise in patients with obstructive sleep apnea before and after one year of treatment with CPAP]. / Krazenie plucne w spoczynku i podczas wysilku u chorych na obturacyjny bezdech senny przed i po rocznym leczeniu za pomoca CPAP.

We studied pulmonary haemodynamics in 19 male patients, mean age 45 +/- 5 years, suffering from severe OSA, mean apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) 68 +/- 17. Pulmonary haemodynamisc were studied using Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter in the supine position at rest, and at the end of the 7th minute of steady-state exercise (40 W). Investigations were repeated after one year of treatment with nasal CPAP. At rest mean pulmonary artery pressure (PPA), pulmonary wedge pressure (PW) and cardiac output (CO) were normal, PPA = 16.6 +/- 5.7 mmHg, PW = 5.2 +/- 1.8 l/min. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was slightly elevated = 155 +/- 65 d.sec.cm-5. On exercise only PVR remained unchanged. After a year of treatment PPA changed to 15.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg (NS), Pw-7.5 +/- 3.1 mmHg (NS), CO-4.9 +/- 1.6 L/min (NS), PVR - 145 +/- 35 d.sec.cm-5 (NS). In two patients with resting hypertension PPA dropped from 33 mmHg to 25 mmHg and 28 mmHg to 18 mmHg respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant change in any of the studied variables after one year of the CPAP therapy.

[Effect of altitude on blood oxygenation during sleep in patients with bronchial asthma]. / Wplyw wysokosci na utlenowanie krwi w czasie snu u chorych na astme oskrzelowa.

The aim of our study was to investigate the severity of overnight arterial blood desaturations in patients with asthma at the altitude of 3200 meters above sea level. 12 asthmatics and 12 healthy controls were investigated. Three overnight pulsoximetries were performed in all subjects, one at the lowland and on the 1st and 5th night at the altitude. Mean SaO2 at the lowland was significantly lower in asthmatics than in the controls (p < 0.01). After the ascent to high altitude severe fall in mean SaO2 was noted in both groups (from 94.3% to 85.8% in asthmatics and from 97.1% to 88.7% in controls) (p < 0.001 for both groups). After few days of acclimatization mean SaO2 rose to 88.8% in asthmatics and to 91.3% in controls, but was still significantly lower than at the lowland (p < 0.001 for both groups). At the altitude differences in mean SaO2 between two groups were not statistically significant. We conclude that severity of overnight desaturations at high altitude do not vary between asthmatics with impaired respiratory function and healthy subjects.

[Use of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation in treatment of exacerbation of chronic respiratory insufficiency]. / Zastosowanie wentylacji wspomaganej przez nos w leczeniu zaostrzenia przewleklej niewydolnosci oddychania.

A case of a 45 year old male with COPD is presented. In the past the patient required twice mechanical ventilation. During a current hospitalization Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) was successfully applied. The treatment was carried out continuously for 8 days, during the next 7 days for 15 hours per day, during the next 8 days only at night time. A clinical improvement was seen. NIPPV was used for a shorter period of time than the classical mechanical ventilation. It was also less expensive.

Hand-scoring of MESAM 4 recordings is more accurate than automatic analysis in screening for obstructive sleep apnoea.

The MESAM 4 system, developed to monitor breathing sounds, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation (Sao2) and body position, was proposed as a screening method for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of hand-scoring versus automatic-scoring in screening for obstructive sleep apnoea. The study population consisted of 56 patients, 51 males, and 5 females, mean age 47 +/- 10 yrs, suspected of having obstructive sleep apnoea. Full polysomnography and MESAM 4 recordings were performed simultaneously. The apnoea+hypopnoea index was hand-scored in polysomnography and in MESAM 4. The hand-scoring in MESAM 4 was based on analysis of breathing sounds, heart rate and Sao2 changes taken together. The automatic-scoring system of MESAM 4 calculated oxygen desaturation index, heart rate variation index and intermittent snoring index. The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (apnoea+hypopnoea index > or = 10) was established by polysomnography in 37 patients. Sensitivity and specificity of hand-scored MESAM 4 diagnosis were 100 and 63%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of MESAM 4 diagnosis with automatic-scoring were: from oxygen desaturation index 100 and 27%; from heart rate variation index 81 and 74%; and from intermittent snoring index 92 and 16%, respectively. We suggest that hand-scoring of MESAM 4 is more accurate than automatic-scoring in screening for obstructive sleep apnoea.