Test-retest reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in clinical trial settings.

The present analysis examined the test-retest reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in participants with excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea in three clinical trials. Intraclass correlation coefficient estimates for Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores from two solriamfetol 12-week placebo-controlled trials (one narcolepsy, one obstructive sleep apnea) and one long-term open-label extension trial (narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea) were calculated using postbaseline time-point pairs for the overall population in each trial, by treatment, and by primary obstructive sleep apnea therapy adherence. In the 12-week narcolepsy trial, intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals) were 0.83 (0.79, 0.87) for weeks 4 and 8 (n = 199), 0.87 (0.83, 0.90) for weeks 8 and 12 (n = 196), and 0.81 (0.76, 0.85) for weeks 4 and 12 (n = 196). In the 12-week obstructive sleep apnea trial, intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals) were 0.74 (0.69, 0.78) (n = 416), 0.80 (0.76, 0.83) (n = 405), and 0.74 (0.69, 0.78) (n = 405), respectively. In the open-label extension trial, intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals) were 0.82 (0.79, 0.85) for weeks 14 and 26/27 (n = 495), 0.85 (0.82, 0.87) for weeks 26/27 and 39/40 (n = 463), and 0.78 (0.74, 0.81) for weeks 14 and 39/40 (n = 463). Placebo/solriamfetol treatment or adherence to primary obstructive sleep apnea therapy did not affect reliability. In conclusion, across three large clinical trials of participants with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores demonstrated a robust acceptable level of test-retest reliability in evaluating treatment response over time.

Validation of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents (ESS-CHAD) questionnaire in pediatric patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy aged 7-16 years.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents (ESS-CHAD) measures daytime sleepiness, but had not previously been validated in children <12 years of age. PATIENTS/METHODS: Data from a sodium oxybate (SXB) study in pediatric participants with narcolepsy with cataplexy (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02221869) were used in this validation study. SXB-naive participants completed an open-label titration period prior to entering a 2-week stable-dose period; participants taking SXB at study entry entered a 3-week stable-dose period. RESULTS: The analysis population (N = 100) had a mean (SD) age of 11.9 (2.39) years. Internal consistency as assessed by Cronbach's alpha was 0.750 (95% CI, 0.681-0.819). The intraclass correlation coefficient for the test-retest reliability assessment (n = 64 with stable or no stimulant use at study entry) was 0.755 (95% CI, 0.626-0.844). Responsiveness to change, measured as the mean within-person change in 1-week ESS-CHAD score over time in SXB-naive participants (n = 59) from baseline (before taking SXB) to end of the stable-dose period (taking the titrated amount of SXB), was -6.31 (95% CI: -7.61, -5.00; nominal P < 0.0001). For convergent construct validity, the mean (SD) scores for female (n = 40) and male (n = 60) participants were 13.98 (4.440) and 14.65 (4.050), respectively (nominal P = 0.4430). For divergent construct validity, the mean (SD) scores were 16.31 (2.978) in the group who were taking neither SXB nor stimulants at study entry (n = 32) and 13.47 (4.400) in the group taking SXB with or without stimulants at study entry (n = 68; nominal P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: This evidence supports the validity of the 1-week ESS-CHAD in a pediatric population with narcolepsy.

Indirect treatment comparison of solriamfetol, modafinil, and armodafinil for excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea affects 9%-22% of continuous positive airway pressure-treated patients. An indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis was performed to compare efficacy and safety of medications (solriamfetol, modafinil, and armodafinil) approved to treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: Efficacy and safety measures assessed in this indirect treatment comparison included Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), 20-minute Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT20), Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C), Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (any, serious, or leading to discontinuation). RESULTS: A systematic literature review identified 6 parallel-arm, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials that randomized 1,714 total participants to placebo, solriamfetol, modafinil, or armodafinil. In this indirect treatment comparison, all comparators were associated with greater improvements than placebo on the ESS, MWT20, and CGI-C after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Relative to comparators and placebo at 12 weeks, solriamfetol at 150 mg or 300 mg had the highest probabilities of improvement in the ESS, MWT20, and CGI-C. Modafinil (200 or 400 mg) and solriamfetol (150 or 300 mg) were associated with greater improvement on the FOSQ than placebo at 12 weeks. Less than 2% of patients using placebo or comparators experienced serious or discontinuation-related treatment-emergent adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this indirect treatment comparison show 12 weeks of treatment with solriamfetol, modafinil, and armodafinil resulted in varying levels of improvement on the ESS, MWT20, and CGI-C and similar safety risks in participants with excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea. CITATION: Ronnebaum S, Bron M, Patel D, et al. Indirect treatment comparison of solriamfetol, modafinil, and armodafinil for excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(12):2543-2555.

Determination of thresholds for minimally important difference and clinically important response on the functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire short version in adults with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: This study estimated thresholds for clinically important responses and minimally important differences for two indicators of improvement for the 10-item version of the functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire (FOSQ-10). METHODS: Participants with excessive daytime sleepiness with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea received 12 weeks of solriamfetol treatment. Participants completed the FOSQ-10 and other patient-reported outcome measures, including the single-item patient global impression of change (PGI-C) assessment. Clinicians completed the single-item clinician global impression of change (CGI-C) for each participant. Data from the two studies were analyzed separately, both without regard to treatment assignment. In total, 690 participants (47% female, mean age 48 years, 77% Caucasian, 91% from North America) were enrolled. Two clinically important changes, defined as a minimally important difference and a clinically important response, were determined using distribution and anchor-based analyses. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal FOSQ-10 change threshold. RESULTS: Spearman correlations between change in FOSQ-10 scores and PGI-C and CGI-C were - 0.57 and - 0.49 for participants with narcolepsy and - 0.42 and - 0.37 for participants with obstructive sleep apnea. Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested minimally important difference and clinically important response estimates of 1.7 and 2.5 and 1.8 and 2.2 points in narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally important difference and clinically important response estimates for the FOSQ-10 for adults with excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea will be helpful for interpreting changes over time and defining a clinical responder. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIERS: NCT02348593 (first submitted January 15, 2015) and NCT02348606 (first submitted January 15, 2015).

Relationship between sleep efficacy endpoints and measures of functional status and health-related quality of life in participants with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea treated for excessive daytime sleepiness.

This study examined the correlation between improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness in participants with obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy and changes in functional status, work productivity and health-related quality of life. Data from two 12-week randomized controlled trials of solriamfetol were analyzed. Participants completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, 10-item Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and performed the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Patient Global Impression of Change was assessed at weeks 4, 8 and 12. Pearson correlations were calculated for change in scores from baseline to week 12. For both studies, changes in the 10-item Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire were highly correlated (absolute value >0.5) with changes in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores; changes in multiple domain scores of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire were moderately correlated (0.3-0.5) with changes in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores in both studies and highly correlated for participants with narcolepsy. Changes in Maintenance of Wakefulness Test scores correlated moderately with changes in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores in both studies. At week 12, Patient Global Impression of Change ratings correlated highly with Epworth Sleepiness Scale and 10-item Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire scores for both disorders. Other correlations were low. Self-reported assessments of sleepiness and global improvement appear to be more strongly correlated with measures of functioning and health-related quality of life than objectively assessed sleepiness.

Measures of functional outcomes, work productivity, and quality of life from a randomized, phase 3 study of solriamfetol in participants with narcolepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Solriamfetol (formerly JZP-110), a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is approved in the US to improve wakefulness in adults with excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy (75-150 mg/d) or obstructive sleep apnea (37.5-150 mg/d). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in participants with narcolepsy, effects of solriamfetol on functional status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and work productivity were evaluated. METHODS: Participants with narcolepsy (N = 239) were randomized to solriamfetol 75, 150, or 300 mg, or placebo for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire short version (FOSQ-10), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire for Specific Health Problem (WPAI:SHP). A mixed-effects model with repeated measures was used for comparisons vs placebo. RESULTS: At week 12, solriamfetol increased FOSQ-10 total score, with greatest mean difference from placebo (95% CI) at 300 mg (1.45 [0.31, 2.59]). On SF-36v2, improvements vs placebo were observed in physical component summary scores (300 mg: 2.22 [0.04, 4.41]) and subscales of role physical, general health, and vitality. On WPAI:SHP, solriamfetol 150 mg reduced overall work impairment vs placebo (-15.5 [-29.52, -1.47]), and 150 and 300 mg reduced activity impairment vs placebo (-10.05 [-19.48, -0.62] and -13.49 [-23.19, -3.78], respectively). Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild or moderate in severity. Common TEAEs were headache, nausea, decreased appetite, nasopharyngitis, dry mouth, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Solriamfetol improved measures of functional status, HRQoL, and work productivity, particularly at the 150- and 300-mg doses. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02348593, EudraCT number 2014-005487-15.

Association Between Spending and Survival of Chronic Heart Failure Across Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

Importance: The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care to more than 2 000 000 veterans with chronic cardiovascular disease, yet little is known about how expenditures vary across VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), or whether VAMCs with greater health expenditures are associated with better health outcomes. Objectives: To compare expenditures for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) across the nation's VAMCs and examine the association between health care spending and survival. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort study using existing administrative data sets from the VA's Corporate Data Warehouse and each veteran's Medicare enrollment information and claims history for fee-for-service clinicians outside of the VA from 265 714 patients diagnosed with CHF between April 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013, who received care at any of 138 VAMCs or affiliated outpatient clinics nationwide. Patients were followed up through September 30, 2014. Data were analyzed from April 1, 2010, through September 30, 2014. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were patient deaths per calendar quarter and aggregate VA costs per calendar quarter. Hierarchical generalized linear models with hospital-level random effects were estimated to calculate both risk-standardized annual health care expenditures and risk-standardized annual survival rates for veterans with CHF at each VAMC. The association between VAMC-level expenditures and survival was then modeled using local and linear regression. Results: Of the 265 714 patients included, 261 132 (98.7%) were male; 224 353 (84.4%) were white; 41 110 (15.5%) were black, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaskan Native; and 251 (0.1%) did not report race. Mean (SD) age of the patients included was 74 (10) years. Across 138 VAMCs, mean (95% CI) annual expenditures for veterans with CHF varied from $21 300 ($20 300-$22 400) to $52 800 ($49 400-$54 300) per patient, whereas annual survival varied between 81.4% to 88.9%. There was a modest V-shaped association between spending and survival such that adjusted survival was 1.7 percentage points higher at the minimum level of spending compared with the inflection point of $34 100 per year (P = .001) and 1.9 percentage points higher at the maximum level of spending compared with the inflection point (P = .006). Conclusions and Relevance: Despite marked differences in mean annual expenditures per veteran, only a modest association was found between CHF spending and survival at the VAMC level, with slightly higher survival observed at the extremes of the spending range. Hospitals with high expenditures may be less efficient than their peer institutions in producing optimal health outcomes.