Impact of the sleep apnea management group clinic on positive airway pressure adherence.

BACKGROUND: Positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence is critical for managing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We postulate that group-based Sleep Apnea Management (SAM) clinic, which harnesses the benefits of providing mutual support as well as facilitates access to system-based resources and education, will confer improvements in PAP adherence. METHODS: Data from SAM clinic attendees from January 2017 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Adherence data at SAM baseline visit and 1-3 months follow-up were collected. Average PAP usage from all-days and days used were analyzed along with demographics, co-morbidities, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Adherence was defined as >4 hours a night for ≥70% of nights over a 30-day period. Key structural elements of the SAM group clinic model were co-presence of the OSA care team members and peer group support. Key efficiency elements were group education and the prompt-to-patient multidisciplinary troubleshooting adherence barriers. RESULTS: Of 110 SAM clinic attendees, average age was 60.9±12.7 years, 53% were men, and 46% Caucasian. At baseline, the mean for average-all-days usage was 4.2 hours, mean average-days-used usage was 5.2 hours, and mean percentage-of-days usage ≥4 hours was 57%. At follow-up, the mean average-all-days usage increased 1.2 hours (p<0.001), mean average-days-used usage increased 0.8 hours (p<0.001), and the mean percentage-of-days with usage ≥4 hours increased 16% (p<0.001). At baseline, 46% of patients met criteria for adherence, which increased to 66% at follow-up. CONCLUSION: In this study, after the SAM clinic, all PAP adherence parameters improved significantly. This observational study serves as a proof of concept study for future trials pertaining to group clinic in managing PAP adherence in OSA.

Depression score changes in response to sleep disordered breathing treatment with positive airway pressure in a large clinic-based cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical-population impact of positive airway pressure (PAP) on depressive symptoms in sleep disordered breathing (SDB) awaits clear documentation. We hypothesized that depressive symptoms improve in response to PAP treatment in a large clinical setting, and that lower socio-economic status poses barriers to full therapeutic response. METHOD: We performed a retrospective cohort study of SDB patients attending a tertiary ambulatory sleep center between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. Data extracted from electronic health records included Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores, demographic characteristics, PAP adherence, and medical history. Paired- and two-sample t tests were utilized to assess changes in PHQ-9 score according to PAP adherence. Linear regression models were constructed to evaluate the association of socioeconomic status (SES) and other clinical variables on PHQ-9 scores. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 1981 SDB patients (56.4 ± 13.3 years; 45.7% female; 76.2% Caucasian). Regardless of adherence, PAP therapy improved PHQ-9 scores (- 2.4 ± 4.6, p < 0.0001), with more robust responses in patients with baseline PHQ-9 scores > 10 (- 4.8 ± 5.7; p < 0.0001). Adherent patients had significantly greater improvement (- 2.8 ± 4.4 vs. 1.6 + 4.2, p < 0.0001), and even greater benefit if baseline PHQ-9 was > 10 (-6.0 ± 5.3 vs. - 3.8 ± 4.9, p < 0.001). Patients from lower socioeconomic status and greater depressive symptom had worse post-PAP PHQ-9 scores. CONCLUSIONS: PAP therapy and adherence were associated with improvement in depressive symptom severity in this clinical cohort. Patients with lower socioeconomic status derived less therapeutic benefit, suggesting that they faced additional barriers to treatment effectiveness.

"Go! to Sleep": A Web-Based Therapy for Insomnia.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is a common complaint of individuals presenting to healthcare providers and is associated with decreased quality of life and higher healthcare utilization. In-person cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for insomnia but is hindered by cost and limited access to treatment. Initial research suggests that Web-based CBT may mitigate these obstacles. INTRODUCTION: This study tests the effectiveness of a Web-based program for insomnia based on principles of CBT and stress management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized trial with wait-list controls among adults with primary insomnia (n = 88). Two hundred sixty-three adults with comorbid insomnia were also included and analyzed separately. The intervention was a 6-week online program, and effectiveness was measured via the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). RESULTS: Baseline ISI score for the intervention group (n = 43) was 17.0; 16.6 for the control group (n = 45). At first follow-up, the intervention group (n = 25) had a mean change from baseline of -7.3 (95% CI: -9.0, -5.6), sustained through second follow-up, while the control group (n = 35) had a change of -1.3 (-2.7, 0.1). The between-group difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Participants in the comorbid insomnia group had a baseline ISI score of 16.7 with improvement similar to the primary insomnia group (-6.9; -7.6, -6.2). DISCUSSION: We observed clinically meaningful improvements in insomnia severity in adults with primary or comorbid insomnia. Sustained improvement over 4 months underscores the effectiveness of a well-constructed online CBT for insomnia program. CONCLUSIONS: Go! to Sleep

Effect of positive airway pressure therapy on seizure control in patients with epilepsy and obstructive sleep apnea.

Previous studies suggest that treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with epilepsy can improve seizure control. We investigated the effect of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on seizures in adults with epilepsy referred to the Cleveland Clinic for polysomnography (PSG) from 1997 to 2010. Seizure outcome at baseline and 1 year later was compared in patients with no OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] <5), patients with PAP-treated OSA, and patients with untreated OSA. One hundred thirty-two subjects (age: 40.2±13 (18-76) years, 65.4% female) were included. Seventy-six (57.6%) subjects had OSA; of these, 43 (56.6%) were on PAP therapy, and 33 (43.4%) were not on PAP therapy (either PAP-intolerant or refused therapy). Of the group with PAP-treated OSA, 83.7% were adherent (use ≥4 h/night at least 5 nights/week). The percentage of subjects with ≥50% seizure reduction and the mean percentage of seizure reduction were significantly greater in the group with PAP-treated OSA (73.9%; 58.5%) than in subjects with untreated OSA (14.3%; 17.0%). There were significantly more subjects with successful outcomes (with ≥50% seizure reduction or seizure-free at both baseline and follow-up) in the group with PAP-treated OSA (83.7%) than in the groups with no OSA (53.6%) and untreated OSA (39.4%). After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, AHI, and epilepsy duration, we found that the odds of successful outcomes in subjects in the group with PAP-treated OSA were 9.9 and 3.91 times those of the groups with untreated OSA and no OSA, respectively. The group with PAP-treated OSA had 32.3 times the odds of having a ≥50% seizure reduction compared with the group with untreated OSA and 6.13 times compared with the group with no OSA. Positive airway pressure therapy appears to produce beneficial effects on seizures in adult patients with epilepsy and OSA.

Sleep apnea and epilepsy: who's at risk?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent, affecting 25% of men and 10% of women. Treatment reduces seizures in some patients. Awareness of the comorbidity of sleep disturbances in epilepsy has been increasing. No study has explored OSA predictors in patients unselected for epilepsy severity and sleep disorder symptoms. We assessed cross-sectional OSA prevalence and predictors (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥10) in 130 consecutive adults using structured interview, subjective assessments, and polysomnography. Obstructive sleep apnea prevalence was 30%, 16% having moderate-severe disease, rates that markedly exceed general population estimates. Obstructive sleep apnea predictors in multivariate modeling included age, dental problems, and standardized AED dose. Male gender, older age, higher BMI, hypertension, and dental problems were associated with higher AHI. Adults with epilepsy appear at increased risk for OSA, increasing with age and AED load, regardless of gender, BMI, and seizure frequency. These findings support the implementation of routine OSA screening in adult epilepsy clinics.

Development of short forms from the PROMIS™ sleep disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment item banks.

This article reports on the development of short forms from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS™) Sleep Disturbance (SD) and Sleep-Related Impairment (SRI) item banks. Results from post-hoc computerized adaptive testing (CAT) simulations, item discrimination parameters, item means, and clinical judgments were used to select the best-performing 8 items for SD and SRI. The final 8-item short forms provided less test information than the corresponding full banks, but correlated strongly with the longer forms. The short forms had greater measurement precision than the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), as indicated by larger test information values across the continuum of severity, despite having fewer total items--a major advantage for both research and clinical settings.

Development and validation of patient-reported outcome measures for sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairments.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To develop an archive of self-report questions assessing sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairments (SRI), to develop item banks from this archive, and to validate and calibrate the item banks using classic validation techniques and item response theory analyses in a sample of clinical and community participants. DESIGN: Cross-sectional self-report study. SETTING: Academic medical center and participant homes. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand nine hundred ninety-three adults recruited from an Internet polling sample and 259 adults recruited from medical, psychiatric, and sleep clinics. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: This study was part of PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System), a National Institutes of Health Roadmap initiative. Self-report item banks were developed through an iterative process of literature searches, collecting and sorting items, expert content review, qualitative patient research, and pilot testing. Internal consistency, convergent validity, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were examined in the resulting item banks. Factor analyses identified 2 preliminary item banks, sleep disturbance and SRI. Item response theory analyses and expert content review narrowed the item banks to 27 and 16 items, respectively. Validity of the item banks was supported by moderate to high correlations with existing scales and by significant differences in sleep disturbance and SRI scores between participants with and without sleep disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The PROMIS sleep disturbance and SRI item banks have excellent measurement properties and may prove to be useful for assessing general aspects of sleep and SRI with various groups of patients and interventions.

Sleep disturbance predicts future health status after stroke.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We evaluated factors associated with the presence of sleep disturbance in patients with stroke and whether sleep disturbance predicted change in other patient-reported domains of health over time. METHODS: Observational cohort study of 2,190 patients with stroke seen in a cerebrovascular clinic February 17, 2015 to July 5, 2017 who completed patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at ≥ 1 visit, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screen, Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (NeuroQoL) cognitive function and Patient-Reported Outcomes Information Measurement System (PROMIS) sleep disturbance, fatigue, anxiety, social role satisfaction, physical function, and pain interference. Separate multivariable models were constructed with PROMIS sleep disturbance as the dependent variable. Covariates included clinical and demographic variables, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screen scored on the PROMIS metric, and 1 of the 6 other PROMs. Among the 476 patients with ≥ 2 visits, linear regression models were constructed to determine the association of baseline sleep disturbance with follow-up PROMs after adjustment for the corresponding baseline PROMIS/NeuroQol scores, depression score, and clinical variables. RESULTS: Younger age and all PROM scores were associated with sleep disturbance; depression had the greatest association among PROMs (beta estimate 0.53, 95% confidence interval, 0.49, 0.57), physical function had the least (-0.06, 95% confidence interval, -0.11, -0.01). Baseline PROMIS sleep disturbance score was associated with worse adjusted follow-up scores for depression, fatigue, social role satisfaction, and physical function. CONCLUSIONS: Younger age and all 8 PROMs were associated with sleep disturbance in patients with stroke. The degree of sleep disturbance predicted future patient-reported outcomes for multiple domains of health. Further study is warranted to determine if interventions shown to improve sleep symptoms will also improve other outcomes.

Sleep-related symptoms in patients with mild stroke.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Treatable sleep-related conditions are frequent in stroke patients, although their prevalence across stroke types and ideal method for screening is not clear. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of sleep disturbance across different stroke types and identify approaches to the collection of sleep-related measures in clinical practice. METHODS: We performed an observational cohort study of 2,213 patients with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or transient ischemic attack seen in a cerebrovascular clinic February 17, 2015 through July 5, 2017 who completed at least one of the following sleep-related questionnaires: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep disturbance, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Sleep Apnea Probability Scale (SAPS), and sleep duration. Prevalence of abnormal scores were calculated using the following thresholds: PROMIS sleep disturbance ≥ 55, ISI ≥ 15, SAPS score ≥ 0.50, and sleep duration fewer than 6 or more than 9 hours. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of PROMIS sleep disturbance T-score ≥ 55 to identify patients with moderate-severe insomnia (ISI ≥ 15) were computed. RESULTS: In the cohort, 28.6% patients (624/2183) had PROMIS sleep disturbance score ≥ 55, 17.6% (142/808) had ISI ≥ 15, and 61.3% (761/1241) had a positive SAPS screen. The frequency of abnormal sleep scale scores was similar across time periods and stroke types. The sensitivity and specificity of PROMIS sleep disturbance T-score ≥ 55 to identify patients with ISI ≥ 15 were 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.83-0.94) and 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.78-0.84), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sleep-related symptoms in patients with mild stroke are similar across stroke types and time periods after stroke. Potential approaches to screening for sleep disturbance in stroke patients are provided.

Effect of Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Drowsy Driving in a Large Clinic-Based Obstructive Sleep Apnea Cohort.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Drowsy driving related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) represents an important public health problem with limited data on the effect of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. We hypothesize that PAP therapy will reduce self-reported drowsy driving in a large clinic-based OSA cohort. METHODS: Drowsy driving (self-reported near-accidents/accidents) incidents from baseline to after PAP therapy (stratified by adherence) were compared in a cohort of 2,059 patients with OSA who initiated PAP therapy from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the dependence of change in drowsy driving incidents on other factors, including change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) scores. RESULTS: In the entire cohort (age 56.0 ± 13.1 years, 45.4% female, 76.0% white, average follow-up 124.4 ± 67.3 days), drowsy driving incidents reduced from 14.2 to 6.9% after PAP therapy (P < .001). In subgroups, drowsy driving incidents reduced from 14% to 5.3% (P < .001) in patients who self-reported adherence to PAP therapy and 14.1% to 5.3% (P < .001) in patients objectively adherent to PAP therapy. For each one-point improvement in Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, the odds of drowsy driving decreased by about 14% (odds ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.82 to 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: In this clinic-based cohort, drowsy driving improved after adherent PAP usage, with greater drowsy driving risk for those with greater sleep propensity. This highlights the importance of and need for routine drowsy driving assessments and careful clinical attention to PAP adherence and sleep propensity in this population. Our findings should be confirmed and may be used to provide support for initiatives to address the public health issue of drowsy driving.

EEG spectral analysis in primary insomnia: NREM period effects and sex differences.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To compare NREM EEG power in primary insomnia (PI) and good sleeper controls (GSC), examining both sex and NREM period effects; to examine relationships between EEG power, clinical characteristics, and self-reports of sleep. DESIGN: Overnight polysomnographic study. SETTING: Sleep laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: PI (n=48; 29 women) and GSC (n=25; 15 women). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: EEG power from 1-50 Hz was computed for artifact-free sleep epochs across four NREM periods. Repeated measures mixed effect models contrasted differences between groups, EEG frequency bands, and NREM periods. EEG power-frequency curves were modeled using regressions with fixed knot splines. RESULTS: Mixed models showed no significant group (PI vs. GSC) differences; marginal sex differences (delta and theta bands); significant differences across NREM periods; and group*sex and group*NREM period interactions, particularly in beta and gamma bands. Modeled power-frequency curves showed no group difference in whole-night NREM, but PI had higher power than GSC from 18-40 Hz in the first NREM period. Among women, PI had higher 16 to 44-Hz power than GSC in the first 3 NREM periods, and higher 3 to 5-Hz power across all NREM periods. PI and GSC men showed no consistent differences in EEG power. High-frequency EEG power was not related to clinical or subjective sleep ratings in PI. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PI, but not men, showed increased high-frequency and low-frequency EEG activity during NREM sleep compared to GSC, particularly in early NREM periods. Sex and NREM period may moderate quantitative EEG differences between PI and GSC.

Sleep and circadian rhythms in spousally bereaved seniors.

A laboratory study of sleep and circadian rhythms was undertaken in 28 spousally bereaved seniors (> or =60 yrs) at least four months after the loss event. Measures taken included two nights of polysomnography (second night used), approximately 36 h of continuous core body temperature monitoring, and four assessments of mood and alertness throughout a day. Preceding the laboratory study, two-week diaries were completed, allowing the assessment of lifestyle regularity using the 17-item Social Rhythm Metric (SRM) and the timing of sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Diary (PghSD). Also completed were questionnaires assessing level of grief (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief [TRIG] and Index of Complicated Grief [ICG]), subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), morningness-eveningness (Composite Scale of Morningness [CSM]), and clinical interview yielding a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score. Grief was still present, as indicated by an average TRIG score of about 60. On average, the bereaved seniors habitually slept between approximately 23:00 and approximately 06:40 h, achieving approximately 6 h of sleep with a sleep efficiency of approximately 80%. They took about 30 min to fall asleep, and had their first REM episode after 75 min. About 20% of their sleep was in Stage REM, and about 3% in Stages 3 or 4 (slow wave sleep). Their mean PSQI score was 6.4. Their circadian temperature rhythms showed the usual classic shape with a trough at approximately 01:00 h, a fairly steep rise through the morning hours, and a more gradual rise to mid-evening, with an amplitude of approximately 0.8 degrees C. In terms of lifestyle regularity, the mean regularity (SRM) score was 3.65 (slightly lower than that usually seen in seniors). Mood and alertness showed time-of-day variation with peak alertness in the late morning and peak mood in the afternoon. Correlations between outcome sleep/circadian variables and level of grief (TRIG score) were calculated; there was a slight trend for higher grief to be associated with less time spent asleep (p=0.07) and reduced alertness at 20:00 h (p=0.05). Depression score was not correlated with TRIG score (p>0.20). When subjects were divided into groups by the nature of their late spouse's death (expected/after a long-term chronic illness [n=18] versus unexpected [n=10]), no differences emerged in any of the variables. In conclusion, when studied at least four months after the loss event, there appears to be some sleep disruption in spousally bereaved seniors. However, this disruption does not appear to be due to bereavement-related disruptions in the circadian system.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale: Validation of One-Dimensional Factor Structure in a Large Clinical Sample.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is used by clinicians and researchers to determine level of daytime sleepiness. The number of factors included in the scale has been debated. Our study objective was to clarify the dimensionality of the ESS using a large clinical sample. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included all patients presenting for care in a tertiary care sleep disorders center who answered all items on the ESS from January 8, 2008 to September 28, 2012. Dimensionality was assessed using scree plot, eigenvalues, factor loadings, principal factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) evaluated dimensionality within 10 subgroups of clinical interest. RESULTS: The mean age of the 10,785 study participants was 50 (± 15) years with 49% female, and 81% white. The one-factor solution explained 63% of the variability in responses with high factor loadings (> .67 for all 8 items). The scree plot identified one factor with eigenvalue > 1. Results of confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a one-factor solution had acceptable goodness of fit as assessed by root mean square error of approximation of .094 (90% confidence interval: .089-.099). MGCFA confirmed measurement invariance within all 10 demographic and clinical subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the unidimensionality of the ESS in a large diverse clinical population. Results from this study can be used to justify the interpretation of the ESS within clinical populations, and supports valid comparisons between groups based on the ESS. Future studies are warranted to further understand the items comprising the ESS and potentially eliminate redundant items for increased efficiency in clinical settings.

Daytime symptoms in primary insomnia: a prospective analysis using ecological momentary assessment.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively characterize and compare daytime symptoms in primary insomnia (PI) and good sleeper control (GSC) subjects using ecological momentary assessment; to examine relationships between daytime symptom factors, retrospective psychological and sleep reports, and concurrent sleep diary reports. METHODS: Subjects included 47 PI and 18 GSC. Retrospective self-reports of daytime and sleep symptoms were collected. Daytime symptoms and sleep diary information were then collected for 1 week on hand-held computers. The Daytime Insomnia Symptom Scale (DISS) consisted of 19 visual analog scales completed four times per day. Factors for the DISS were derived using functional principal components analysis. Nonparametric tests were used to contrast DISS, retrospective symptom ratings, and sleep diary results in PI and GSC subjects, and to examine relationships among them. RESULTS: Four principal components were identified for the DISS: Alert Cognition, Negative Mood, Positive Mood, and Sleepiness/Fatigue. PI scored significantly worse than GSC on all four factors (p<0.0003 for each). Among PI subjects DISS scales and retrospective psychological symptoms were related to each other in plausible ways. DISS factors were also related to self-report measures of sleep, whereas retrospective psychological symptom measures were not. CONCLUSIONS: Daytime symptom factors of alertness, positive and negative mood, and sleepiness/fatigue, collected with ecological momentary assessment, showed impairment in PI versus GSC. DISS factors showed stronger relationships to retrospective sleep symptoms and concurrent sleep diary reports than retrospective psychological symptoms. The diurnal pattern of symptoms may inform studies of the pathophysiology and treatment outcome of insomnia.

Impact of Sleep-Disordered Breathing Treatment on Quality of Life Measures in a Large Clinic-Based Cohort.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aims to report the effect of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on quality of life (QoL) measures in the clinical sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) population. METHODS: We examined general QoL measures assessed by European Quality of Life-5D (EQ-5D) and sleep-specific QoL by examining Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) scores before and after PAP therapy retrospectively in a clinical SDB population using paired and two-sample t tests. Age and socioeconomic status (SES) effect modification on pre-PAP QoL measures were investigated utilizing the interaction terms. RESULTS: A total of 2,027 patients with SDB initiated PAP therapy between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014. The mean age of the cohort was 56.2 years (standard deviation = 13.2), with 45.8% female and 76.9% Caucasians. EQ-5D change after exclusion of those with normal QoL was 0.042 (0.152) in all patients, 0.051 (0.150) in patients who were PAP adherent by self-report, and 0.050 (0.132) in patients who were objectively PAP adherent (n = 704 of 1,011 with available objective adherence data, 69.6%). Change in FOSQ after excluding those with normal FOSQ was 1.9 (2.9) in all patients, 2.2 (2.9) in patients who were PAP adherent by self-report, and 2.3 (2.9) in patients who were objectively PAP adherent. Those with (1) worse QoL at baseline and younger age and (2) worse QoL at baseline and residing in lower SES strata had worse outcomes after PAP therapy (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: We found consistent improvement in global and sleep-specific QoL measures after PAP therapy, hence providing evidence of PAP benefit in the clinical population and rationale for targeted efforts to optimize QoL in younger and lower SES subgroups.

Neck Circumference-Height Ratio as a Predictor of Sleep Related Breathing Disorder in Children and Adults.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: While neck circumference (NC) is a useful predictor of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults, childhood OSA is difficult to predict clinically. We utilized the neck circumference-height ratio (NHR) to normalize NC in growing children. Our study aimed to determine if (1) NC is a reproducible clinical measurement; (2) NHR predicts OSA in children; (3) this metric translates to adults. METHODS: For this retrospective study, paired NC measurements (from clinic and sleep laboratory) in 100 consecutive adult subjects were used to confirm inter-observer reproducibility. Polysomnographic (PSG) and anthropometric data from children aged 5-18 years presenting consecutively between July 2007 and February 2012 was obtained. Children with genetic syndromes, severe neurological disorders, craniofacial abnormalities, tracheostomy, past adenotonsillectomy, in-hospital PSG or sleep efficiency < 80% were excluded. Data were analyzed using χ(2) test and logistic and linear regression models. These analyses were also applied to 99 adult patients with similar exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Adult NC measurement had inter-observer correlation of 0.85 (N = 100). Among children, after correcting for BMI-Z scores, NHR conferred additional predictive value, in both logistic regression and linear models, for both apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 2 and > 5 (N = 507). In children, for NHR > 0.25, the odds ratio of AHI > 2 was 3.47. In adults, for NHR > 0.25, the odds ratio of AHI > 5 was 18. CONCLUSIONS: NHR can be included as a simple screening tool for OSA in children and adults, which along with other predictors, may improve the ability of clinicians to triage children and adults at risk for OSA for further evaluation with PSG.

Impact of Sleep-Disordered Breathing Treatment on Patient Reported Outcomes in a Clinic-Based Cohort of Hypertensive Patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that patient reported outcomes (PROs) improve with positive airway pressure (PAP) in patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and hypertension (HTN). METHODS: Questionnaire-based PROs (sleepiness [Epworth Sleepiness Scale, (ESS)], depression [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)], and fatigue [Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)]) were retrospectively examined in patients with SDB and HTN at baseline and within a year following PAP initiation. PRO changes were estimated using multivariable linear mixed-effect models adjusted for baseline age, sex, race, body mass index, resistant hypertension (RHTN) status, cardiac and diabetes history, and correlation between repeated measurements. Age and race by PAP interaction terms (mean change, 95% CI) were examined. RESULTS: 894 patients with HTN and SDB were examined. 130 (15%) had baseline RHTN (age 58 ± 12 y, 52.9 % male, BMI 36.2 ± 9.1 kg/m2). In multivariable models, a significant improvement in sleepiness ESS (-2.09, 95% CI: -2.37, -1.82), PHQ-9 (-1.91, 95% CI: -2.25, -1.56), and FSS scores (-4.06 95% CI: -4.89, -3.22) was observed. A significant race by PAP effect interaction was observed (p < 0.0001 for all PROs); Caucasians had greater improvements than non-Caucasians. The interaction term of effect of PAP and age was significant for ESS (p = 0.04) and PHQ-9 (p = 0.0003), indicating greater improvement in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent improvement of broad PRO domains in response to PAP in SDB was observed in this clinic-based hypertensive cohort; Caucasians and younger patients derived greater benefit.

Longitudinal Effect of CPAP on BP in Resistant and Nonresistant Hypertension in a Large Clinic-Based Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Clinic-based effectiveness studies of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) treatment in reducing BP in resistant hypertension (RHTN) vs non-RHTN are sparse. We hypothesize that CPAP use in SDB reduces BP significantly in RHTN and non-RHTN in a large clinic-based cohort. METHODS: Electronic medical records were reviewed in patients with SDB and comorbid RHTN and non-RHTN for CPAP therapy initiation (baseline) and subsequent visits. We estimated generalizable BP changes from multivariable mixed-effects linear models for systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure, adjusting for RHTN status, age, sex, race, BMI, cardiac history, and diabetes and repeated measure correlation. RESULTS: Of 894 patients, 130 (15%) had RHTN at baseline (age, 58 ± 12 years; 52% men; BMI, 36 ± 9 kg/m(2)). Patients with RHTN had significantly higher BP overall (P < .001), most notably for SBP (6.9 mm Hg; 95% CI, 3.84, 9.94). In the year following CPAP initiation, improvements in BP indexes did not generally differ based on RHTN status in which RHTN status was a fixed effect. However, there was a significant decrease in SBP (3.08 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.79, 4.37), diastolic BP (2.28; 95% CI, 1.56, 3.00), and mean arterial pressure (2.54 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.73, 3.36) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this clinic-based effectiveness study involving patients closely followed for BP control, a significant reduction of BP measures (strongest for SBP) was observed in response to CPAP which was similar in RHTN and non-RHTN groups thus informing expected clinical CPAP treatment response.

Masking effects of posture and sleep onset on core body temperature have distinct circadian rhythms: results from a 90-min/day protocol.

Both recumbency and sleep affect core body temperature (CBT). To characterize their circadian effects and interactions, the authors examined the bedtime temperature drops (TDs) of nine men and eight women (aged 20 to 30) who repeated 90-min sleep-wake cycles over 2.5 days. While awake, subjects were exposed to 50 to 250 lux; while asleep, lights were off. Electroencephalogram-monitored time inbed lasted 30 min during each cycle. Cosinor nonlinear mixed-effects regressions modeled the circadian rhythm of TDs. The circadian maximum of TDs occurred approximately 4 h before the time of circadian CBT minimum, in a model that included the effects of baseline expected CBT, deviations from baseline CBT, time in study, and gender-dependent 24- and 12-h adjustments. Rates of temperature drops were faster during initial periods of lying awake than during periods of initially sleeping. Both rates followed separate circadian rhythms. The circadian maximum of TDs was located near customary nocturnal bedtimes, suggesting its role in fostering sleep during a normal bedtime routine. The apparent deceleration of temperature dropping at sleep onset supports the notion that the sleep onset period has complicated circadian neuroregulatory dynamics. These findings confirm the need for nonlinear models of temperature responses to postural changes and sleep that incorporate circadian variability in these masking effects.