Spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing and quality of sleep in adolescent and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Sleep-disordered breathing is common among children with spinal muscular atrophy, but has been hardly studied among adult subjects. Little is known about sleep quality in spinal muscular atrophy. The aims of this study were to evaluate occurrence and characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing and subjective sleep quality among adolescent and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 or 3. Twenty patients aged 33.9 ± 15.2 years were studied. They underwent nocturnal cardiorespiratory monitoring, lung and muscular function evaluation, and were administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. Nineteen patients showed sleep-disordered breathing, with obstructive events in seven subjects and non-obstructive events in the remaining 12. In the latter group, 10 patients showed pseudo-obstructive hypopneas. Patients with non-obstructive sleep-disordered breathing were younger (p = 0.042), had a lower body mass index (p = 0.0001), were more often affected by spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (p = 0.001), and showed worse impairment of respiratory function than patients with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. Ten patients were classified as poor sleepers and 10 patients good sleepers. In the whole sample, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure proved to be the only independent predictor of sleep quality (p = 0.009). In conclusion, sleep-disordered breathing is common even among adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 and 3, and may show either obstructive or different types on non-obstructive features. A worse respiratory muscle function is associated to non-obstructive sleep-disordered breathing and poorer sleep quality. Sleep quality should receive greater attention especially in patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 2, who have a poorer respiratory muscle function, as it could affect their quality of life.

European Respiratory Society statement on sleep apnoea, sleepiness and driving risk.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent and is a recognised risk factor for motor vehicle accidents (MVA). Effective treatment with continuous positive airway pressure has been associated with a normalisation of this increased accident risk. Thus, many jurisdictions have introduced regulations restricting the ability of OSA patients from driving until effectively treated. However, uncertainty prevails regarding the relative importance of OSA severity determined by the apnoea-hypopnoea frequency per hour and the degree of sleepiness in determining accident risk. Furthermore, the identification of subjects at risk of OSA and/or accident risk remains elusive. The introduction of official European regulations regarding fitness to drive prompted the European Respiratory Society to establish a task force to address the topic of sleep apnoea, sleepiness and driving with a view to providing an overview to clinicians involved in treating patients with the disorder. The present report evaluates the epidemiology of MVA in patients with OSA; the mechanisms involved in this association; the role of screening questionnaires, driving simulators and other techniques to evaluate sleepiness and/or impaired vigilance; the impact of treatment on MVA risk in affected drivers; and highlights the evidence gaps regarding the identification of OSA patients at risk of MVA.

Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment reduces glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in obstructive sleep apnea patients with concomitant weight loss: Longitudinal data from the ESADA.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of developing metabolic disease such as diabetes. The effects of positive airway pressure on glycemic control are contradictory. We therefore evaluated the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a large cohort of OSA patients after long-term treatment with positive airway pressure. HbA1c levels were assessed in a subsample of the European Sleep Apnea Database [n=1608] at baseline and at long-term follow up with positive airway pressure therapy (mean 378.9±423.0 days). In a regression analysis, treatment response was controlled for important confounders. Overall, HbA1c decreased from 5.98±1.01% to 5.93±0.98% (p=0.001). Patient subgroups with a more pronounced HbA1c response included patients with diabetes (-0.15±1.02, p=0.019), those with severe OSA baseline (-0.10±0.68, p=0.005), those with morbid obesity (-0.20±0.81, p<0.001). The strongest HbA1c reduction was observed in patients with a concomitant weight reduction >5 kilos (-0.38±0.99, p<0.001). In robust regression analysis, severe OSA (p=0.038) and morbid obesity (p=0.005) at baseline, and weight reduction >5 kilos (p<0.001) during follow up were independently associated with a reduction of HbA1c following PAP treatment. In contrast, PAP treatment alone without weight reduction was not associated with significant Hb1Ac reduction. In conclusion, positive airway pressure therapy is associated with HbA1c reduction in patients with severe OSA, in morbidly obese patients. and most obviously in those with significant weight lost during the follow-up. Our study underlines the importance to combine positive airway pressure use with adjustments in lifestyle to substantially modify metabolic complications in OSA.

Unique sleep-stage transitions determined by obstructive sleep apnea severity, age and gender.

In obstructive sleep apnea, patients' sleep is fragmented leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and co-morbidities like arterial hypertension. However, traditional metrics are not always directly correlated with daytime sleepiness, and the association between traditional sleep quality metrics like sleep duration and arterial hypertension is still ambiguous. In a development cohort, we analysed hypnograms from mild (n = 209), moderate (n = 222) and severe (n = 272) obstructive sleep apnea patients as well as healthy controls (n = 105) from the European Sleep Apnea Database. We assessed sleep by the analysis of two-step transitions depending on obstructive sleep apnea severity and anthropometric factors. Two-step transition patterns were examined for an association to arterial hypertension or daytime sleepiness. We also tested cumulative distributions of wake as well as sleep-states for power-laws (exponent α) and exponential distributions (decay time τ) in dependency on obstructive sleep apnea severity and potential confounders. Independent of obstructive sleep apnea severity and potential confounders, wake-state durations followed a power-law distribution, while sleep-state durations were characterized by an exponential distribution. Sleep-stage transitions are influenced by obstructive sleep apnea severity, age and gender. N2 → N3 → wake transitions were associated with high diastolic blood pressure. We observed higher frequencies of alternating (symmetric) patterns (e.g. N2 → N1 → N2, N2 → wake → N2) in sleepy patients both in the development cohort and in a validation cohort (n = 425). In conclusion, effects of obstructive sleep apnea severity and potential confounders on sleep architecture are small, but transition patterns still link sleep fragmentation directly to obstructive sleep apnea-related clinical outcomes like arterial hypertension and daytime sleepiness.

Obstructive sleep apnea and cancer: a complex relationship.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been recognized as a risk factor for cancer mainly through hypoxia, based on studies that did not distinguish among cancer types. The purpose of this review is to discuss the most recent data on epidemiology and pathophysiology of the OSA-cancer association. RECENT FINDINGS: According to epidemiological studies, OSA may have different influences on each type of cancer, either increasing or decreasing its incidence and aggressiveness. Time spent with oxygen saturation below 90% appears the polysomnographic variable most strongly associated with unfavorable effects on cancer. Experimental studies support the role of hypoxia as an important risk factor for cancer growth and aggressiveness, especially when it shows an intermittent pattern. These effects are largely mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor, which controls the synthesis of molecules with effects on inflammation, immune surveillance and cell proliferation. Sleep fragmentation participates in increasing cancer risk. Modulating effects of age remain controversial. SUMMARY: Effects of OSA on cancer may largely vary among neoplastic diseases, both in their magnitude and direction. The worse risk associated with intermittent rather than persistent hypoxia, and the effects of OSA therapy on cancer natural history are still poorly known, and deserve new careful studies.

Reliability of autonomic activations as surrogates of cortical arousals in ventilated patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

PURPOSE: The study aims to evaluate the performance of autonomic activations as a tool to assess sleep fragmentation and to recognize hypopneas in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) under non-invasive mechanical ventilation and secondarily, to evaluate, in patients with the same disease, the relationship between disruption of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and the usefulness of the autonomic activations as surrogates of cortical arousals. METHODS: Sixteen ALS patients underwent simultaneous polysomnography and portable cardiorespiratory monitoring (PM). On the polysomnography, standard rules were used for scoring arousals and respiratory events. On the PM, autonomic arousals were scored as ≥ 15% heart rate (HR) increase with a ≥ 35% pulse wave amplitude (PWA) reduction, HR increase ≥ 20%, or PWA decrease ≥ 40%. Nocturnal HR variability was analyzed in the ALS patients and in 11 control subjects as an index of ANS activity. RESULTS: Synchronized epoch by epoch analysis of the polysomnography and PM recordings showed that only 31.0 (22.5-58.7)% cortical and 36.1 (20.5-47.2)% autonomic arousals were associated with one another. Among hypopneas scored at polysomnography, 71.7% were associated with a cortical arousal but not with a desaturation. On average, HR variability in ALS showed signs of depressed ANS activity that was particularly evident in the patients where the cortical arousals exceeded the autonomic ones. CONCLUSIONS: In ventilated ALS patients, autonomic activations may hardly have a role as surrogates of cortical arousals for assessment of sleep fragmentation and for respiratory scoring. Depression of ANS activity may be related to their poor performance.

Use of autobilevel ventilation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: An observational study.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-choice treatment for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. Automatic bilevel ventilation can be used to treat obstructive sleep-disordered breathing when CPAP is ineffective, but clinical experience is still limited. To assess the outcome of titration with CPAP and automatic bilevel ventilation, the charts of 356 outpatients (obstructive sleep apnea, n = 242; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease + obstructive sleep apnea overlap, n = 80; obesity hypoventilation syndrome [OHS], n = 34; 103 females) treated for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing from January 2014 to April 2017 were reviewed. Positive airway pressure titration was considered successful in the case of sleep-disordered breathing resolution (apnea-hypopnea index <10/hr) with cumulative time at SaO2  < 90% (CT90%) <10% and/or improved daytime arterial blood gases at the end of titration. CPAP was effective in 268 patients (75.0%). CPAP treatment failure (n = 88) occurred in 13.6% of obstructive sleep apnea, 32.5% of overlap, and 85.3% of OHS patients. Compared with successful CPAP cases, patients undergoing the automatic bilevel ventilation trial showed higher body mass index (39.3 ± 10.5 kg/m2 versus 34.8 ± 6.9 kg/m2 , p < 0.0001), worse mean nocturnal SaO2 (89.2 ± 4.0% versus 91.3 ± 4.0%, p < 0.003) and CT90% (40.6 ± 28.6% versus 24.0 ± 23.3%), but similar age (62.8 ± 11.9 years versus 60.5 ± 12.0 years, p = 0.11), apnea-hypopnea index (39.4 ± 23.2/hr versus 41.0 ± 21.2/hr, p = 0.55) and oxygen desaturation index (37.8 ± 23.5/hr versus 39.2 ± 21.1/hr, p = 0.61) at diagnosis. Automatic bilevel ventilation was successful in 79.5% of CPAP treatment failures (n = 70). Automatic bilevel ventilation failure was independently associated with baseline body mass index >40 kg/m2 (odds ratio 6.16, confidence interval 1.50-25.17, p = 0.011) and CT90% >42% (odds ratio 5.87, confidence interval 1.39-24.83, p = 0.016). During follow-up, automatic bilevel ventilation treatment failed in seven patients (10%), and compliance was similar in CPAP (4.5 ± 2.2 hr) and automatic bilevel ventilation (5.2 ± 2.3 hr, p = 0.09) groups. Automatic bilevel ventilation was useful to treat sleep-disordered breathing, but failed in patients with severe OHS.

Clinical presentation of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea and self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma in the ESADA cohort.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma are often associated and several studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between asthma and OSA. This study analyzed the characteristics of patients with suspected OSA from the European Sleep Apnea Database according to presence/absence of physician-diagnosed asthma. Cross-sectional data in 16,236 patients (29.1% female) referred for suspected OSA were analyzed according to occurrence of physician-diagnosed asthma for anthropometrics, OSA severity and sleepiness. Sleep structure was assessed in patients studied by polysomnography (i.e. 48% of the sample). The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma in the entire cohort was 4.8% (7.9% in women, 3.7% in men, p < 0.0001), and decreased from subjects without OSA to patients with mild-moderate and severe OSA (p = 0.02). Obesity was highly prevalent in asthmatic women, whereas BMI distribution was similar in men with and without physician-diagnosed asthma. Distribution of OSA severity was similar in patients with and without physician-diagnosed asthma, and unaffected by treatment for asthma or gastroesophageal reflux. Asthma was associated with poor sleep quality and sleepiness. Physician-diagnosed asthma was less common in a sleep clinic population than expected from the results of studies in the general population. Obesity appears as the major factor raising suspicion of OSA in asthmatic women, whereas complaints of poor sleep quality were the likely reason for referral in asthmatic men.

Chronic kidney disease in European patients with obstructive sleep apnea: the ESADA cohort study.

The cross-sectional relationship of obstructive sleep apnea with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL min-1 ∙1.73 m-2 , was investigated in a large cohort of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea studied by nocturnal polysomnography or cardiorespiratory polygraphy. Data were obtained from the European Sleep Apnea Database, where information from unselected adult patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea afferent to 26 European sleep centres had been prospectively collected. Both the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equations were used for the assessment of estimated glomerular filtration rate. The analysed sample included 7700 subjects, 71% male, aged 51.9 ± 12.5 years. Severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥30) was found in 34% of subjects. The lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation was 81 ± 10.2%. Chronic kidney disease prevalence in the whole sample was 8.7% or 6.1%, according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease or the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equations, respectively. Subjects with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate were older, more obese, more often female, had worse obstructive sleep apnea and more co-morbidities (P < 0.001, each). With both equations, independent predictors of estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 were: chronic heart failure; female gender; systemic hypertension; older age; higher body mass index; and worse lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation. It was concluded that in obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease is largely predicted by co-morbidities and anthropometric characteristics. In addition, severe nocturnal hypoxaemia, even for only a small part of the night, may play an important role as a risk factor for kidney dysfunction.

Effects of positive end expiratory pressure administration during non-invasive ventilation in patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A randomized crossover study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: No studies have evaluated the impact of different settings of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We explored consequences of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) application on effectiveness of ventilation, sleep architecture and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with ALS naïve to ventilatory treatment. METHODS: In two consecutive nights, 25 patients received in random order 0 or 4 cm H2 0 of PEEP during nocturnal NIV administration (Idea Ultra ResMed) with the same level of total positive inspiratory pressure. Polysomnographies were performed to evaluate sleep and NIV quality, as well as HRV. HRV was analyzed on 4-h periods and on 5-min segments of stable NREM sleep. RESULTS: We did not observe differences in gas exchanges during NIV with and without PEEP. Conversely, during PEEP application increases in leaks (41.4 ± 29.3% vs 31.0 ± 25.7%, P = 0.0007) and in autotriggerings (4.2 (IQR 1.3-10.0) vs 0.9 (IQR 0.0-3.0) events/h, P < 0.001, PEEP vs no PEEP, respectively) occurred. Besides, N3 sleep stage duration decreased (2.5% (IQR 0.0-18.0) vs 0.0% (IQR0.0-12.1), P = 0.001) and arousal/awakening index increased (16.9 ± 7.4 vs 13.4 ± 5.0 events/h, P = 0.01). Data on HRV were available in 15 patients. A higher low/high frequency ratio, either in the 4-h (3.8 ± 2.6 vs 2.9 ± 1.7, P = 0.04, PEEP vs no PEEP, respectively) or in the 5-min segments (2.6 ± 1.8 vs 1.45 ± 0.9 P = 0.01) was found during PEEP administration. CONCLUSION: In ALS patients, PEEP application during NIV was associated with worse NIV and sleep quality and with higher sympathetic activity.

Relaxin in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Relationship with Blood Pressure and Inflammatory Mediators.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with nocturnal intermittent hypoxia, which may be responsible for increased circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory mediators, such as metalloproteinases (MMPs), and which contributes to the pathogenesis of systemic hypertension. Why some OSA patients remain normotensive is poorly understood. Relaxin-2, a pregnancy hormone, may sometimes circulate in men and could increase in hypoxic conditions. It exerts a vasodilatory activity and can modulate the release of molecules, such as MMPs and VEGF. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore if circulating relaxin-2 in male OSA subjects may be related to OSA severity, to circulating levels of MMPs, of their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases; TIMPs), and of VEGF, and if it may protect from hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty untreated male subjects with suspected OSA were recruited. After nocturnal polysomnography, a morning venous blood sample was withdrawn. Then, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring was performed. RESULTS: The respiratory disturbance index in the sample was 30.4 [interquartile range (IQR) 15.6-55.2]. Relaxin-2 was detectable in 20 subjects. These subjects did not differ in OSA severity or diurnal and nocturnal BP from subjects with undetectable relaxin-2, but they showed lower TIMP-1 (126.8 ± 29.1 vs. 156.9 ± 41.7 pg/ml, respectively; p = 0.007) and a marginally higher MMP-9/TIMP-1 molar ratio [0.58 (IQR 0.23-1.35) vs. 0.25 (IQR 0.15-0.56); p = 0.052]. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxin-2 in male subjects was not related to OSA severity, but it was associated with lower TIMP-1. As it was often undetectable, even when BP values were normal, it is unlikely that it plays a role as a major factor protecting from hypertension in OSA.

Immediate effect of CPAP titration on perceived health related quality of life: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Perceived Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is impaired in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study examines changes in HRQoL aspects occurring immediately after CPAP titration. Furthermore, we analyzed variations in each gender and in patients undergoing home or laboratory-based CPAP titration pathways. METHODS: Twohundredfive outpatients (151 M) (56.7 ± 10.3 years) were evaluated, before first visit and nocturnal diagnostic examination (T0), and the morning after CPAP titration (T1). Two self-reported HRQoL questionnaires were administered: Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), composed by six subscales, and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), including Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summaries (MCS). CPAP titration was performed using auto-adjusting CPAP units at patients' home or in the sleep laboratory. RESULTS: PGWBI scores at T1 improved compared to T0 (p < 0.0001). A similar improvement was observed in SF-12 MCS (p = 0.0011), but not in SF-12 PCS. Changes were independent from anthropometric parameters, OSA severity and excessive daytime sleepiness. Gender comparisons showed better HRQoL in males at both times. At T0, patients who received home or laboratory CPAP titration pathways did not show any differences in PGWBI and SF-12 scores. At T1, PGWBI and SF-12 MCS improved in both home and laboratory groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study gives evidence that first time CPAP application for titration can lead to a general increase in perceived well-being. Gender comparisons showed better perceived HRQoL with more subscales improvements in males after CPAP titration. The improvement was similar with both home and laboratory CPAP titration pathways.

Effect of obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis on health related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Perceived Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is impaired in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To our knowledge, no study has analyzed the effect of OSA diagnosis communication on HRQoL. We evaluated self-perceived HRQoL in patients afferent to our sleep center, in order to examine the effect of the diagnosis disclosure on their HRQoL. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-seven consecutive outpatients (227 M) (mean age 54.1 ± 11.6 yrs, range 23-80 yrs) were evaluated, before first clinical visit and nocturnal diagnostic examination (Time A), and after diagnosis disclosure (Time B), with two self-reported questionnaires for HRQoL assessment: Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), consisting of anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, vitality subscales, and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), comprising Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summaries (MCS). RESULTS: Comparison of mean HRQoL scores at Time A with reference values, showed worse scores. Mean PGWBI Total and subscales scores improved at Time B. Similar improvement was observed for SF-12 MCS (p = 0.0148), but nor for SF-12 PCS. At Time B, Anxiety, Depression and Well-being PGWBI subscales became similar to reference values, while the scores in the other PGWBI subscales and SF-12 remained worse. Comparison between males and females showed higher HRQoL values for males at both times. Score changes were independent from age, gender, BMI, AHI, TSat90 and excessive daytime sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis communication improves patients' HRQoL, regardless of the severity. Changes in HRQoL after diagnosis disclosure may be due to patients' motivation for medical check and diagnostic expectations.

Gender-specific anthropometric markers of adiposity, metabolic syndrome and visceral adiposity index (VAI) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea often coexists with visceral adiposity and metabolic syndrome. In this study, we analysed gender-related differences in anthropometrics according to sleep apnea severity and metabolic abnormalities. In addition, the visceral adiposity index, a recently introduced marker of cardiometabolic risk, was analysed. Consecutive subjects with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (n = 528, 423 males, mean age ± standard deviation: 51.3 ± 12.8 years, body mass index: 31.0 ± 6.2 kg m(-2) ) were studied by full polysomnography (apnea-hypopnea index 43.4 ± 27.6 h(-1) ). Variables of general and visceral adiposity were measured (body mass index, neck, waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio). The visceral adiposity index was calculated, and metabolic syndrome was assessed (NCEP-ATP III criteria). The sample included controls (apnea-hypopnea index <10 h(-1) , n = 55), and patients with mild-moderate (apnea-hypopnea index 10-30 h(-1) , n = 144) and severe sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index >30 h(-1) , n = 329). When anthropometric variables were entered in stepwise multiple regression, body mass index, waist circumference and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome were associated with the apnea-hypopnea index in men (adjusted R(2)  = 0.308); by contrast, only hip circumference and height-normalized neck circumference were associated with sleep apnea severity in women (adjusted R(2)  = 0.339). These results changed little in patients without metabolic syndrome; conversely, waist circumference was the only correlate of apnea-hypopnea index in men and women with metabolic syndrome. The visceral adiposity index increased with insulin resistance, but did not predict sleep apnea severity. These data suggest gender-related interactions between obstructive sleep apnea, obesity and metabolic abnormalities. The visceral adiposity index was a good marker of metabolic syndrome, but not of obstructive sleep apnea.

Usefulness of reinforcing interventions on continuous positive airway pressure compliance.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a high prevalence sleep disorder characterized by upper airway obstruction during sleep, nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia, poor sleep quality, risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The adherence to CPAP is the key for an effective management of these patients.The aim of the study was to assess the adherence to CPAP therapy with and without early reinforcing interventions, consisting of motivational reinforcement and technical support in the first month of therapy. METHODS: Forty patients with OSA undergoing counseling and a one year follow-up on a quarterly basis were included in the study. Twenty subjects (intervention group) underwent reinforcing interventions with telephone interviews in the first month of therapy, and twenty (control group) remained without reinforcing interventions. The two populations were homogeneous for age, severity of illness and BMI. RESULTS: During the first month, intervention group patients showed a higher number of nights with a device use ≥4 hours. Average treatment adherence in the first month (days of therapy with at least 4 hours per night on the total number of days from device delivery) was 77.5% in the intervention group and 55.7% in the control group (p = 0.022). At one year the differences between the two groups were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that it is important that adequate time and effort is spent to ensure patient comfort at the time of CPAP therapy start to optimize acceptance and adherence to treatment, and suggest that it is necessary to maintain reinforcing interventions over time.

Comorbidities and survival in obstructive sleep apnoea beyond the age of 50.

BACKGROUND: Although mortality risk associated with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) tends to disappear from the age of 50, it has been suggested that OSA treatment by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) improves survival even in older subjects. Life expectancy of subjects with several diseases is worse if OSA coexists. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relevance of comorbidities in the relationship between OSA and mortality, and in the effect of CPAP on survival, in subjects ≥ 50 years old. METHODS: Data from 810 patients studied by polysomnography for suspected OSA between 1991 and 2000 were retrospectively evaluated. In 2009, state of survival and use of CPAP were enquired. Three hundred and thirteen subjects were < 50 and 497 were ≥ 50 years at diagnosis. RESULTS: Age and comorbidities, but not apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) or lowest nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation (Nadir SaO(2)), predicted mortality in the whole sample. Nadir SaO(2) was related to mortality among the younger subjects without comorbidities (P = 0·01), but not among the older subjects. In the older patients with an AHI > 30 CPAP treatment was associated with a better survival only if comorbidities coexisted. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike in younger subjects, in subjects ≥ 50 years old, comorbidities do not mask an effect of OSA on mortality. Among OSA subjects ≥ 50 years old, comorbidities could separate those who may expect an improvement in survival with CPAP treatment from those who may not. Possibly, after the age of 50, OSA per se does not affect survival, but worsens prognosis of subjects with coexisting diseases.

Quality of life in patients at first time visit for sleep disorders of breathing at a sleep centre.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep-disordered breathing adversely affects daytime alertness and cognition. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients have several typical symptoms including habitual snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, lack of concentration, memory impairment, and at times psychological disturbances. We evaluated different aspects in the health related quality of life (HRQoL) in subjects referred to our sleep laboratory for their first examination for suspicion of OSA. METHODS: One hundred ninety-eight consecutive outpatients (152 M) (mean age 52.7 ± 12.8 years, range 18-82 years; mean BMI 31.0 ± 6.5 kg/m(2), range 17.3-57.8 kg/m(2) were evaluated with two self-reported questionnaires for HRQoL assessment: Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), that asses anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, vitality, and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), consisting assesses of Physical and Mental Component Summaries (PCS and MCS). Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess daytime sleepiness before nocturnal diagnostic examination. RESULTS: Subjects showed variable HRQoL scores. HRQoL was worse in women than men and it decreased with age. No relation was found with AHI severity (range 0-129 n/h). BMI and TSat90 (range 0-87.9%) affected physical health perception (SF-12 PCS). Furthermore TSat90 influenced PGWBI Vitality subscale. Subjects with ESS > 10 showed a worse HRQoL profile (p < 0.001) in SF-12 and in PGWBI. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, BMI and ESS were significant predictors of SF-12 PCS (p < 0.001; r(2) = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: A worse HRQoL perception among subjects referred for OSA suspicion was not related to disease severity. BMI and hypoxemia influenced only some HRQoL dimensions, while excessive daytime sleepiness worsens all HRQoL components considered.

Age Related Burden of Swallowing in Adult Patients Affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), dysphagia is a common but often overlooked symptom, which may affect quality of life (QoL). Its possible causes are progressive deterioration of muscle groups involved in swallowing function (oropharyngeal, inspiratory muscles) or impairment of autonomic function. OBJECTIVES: In adult patients with DMD, we aimed to identify predictors of swallowing-related QoL and to compare swallowing-related QoL at different ages. METHODS: Forty-eight patients aged 30.0±6.6 years were enrolled. Questionnaires were administered: the Swallowing Quality of Life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) for swallowing-related QoL assessment, and the Compass 31 for autonomic symptoms assessment. The Brooke Upper Extremity Scale was used for upper limbs muscular function assessment. Respiratory and muscle function tests were performed, including spirometry, arterial blood gases, polysomnography, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure. RESULTS: An abnormal composite SWAL-QOL score (≤86) was found in 33 patients. Autonomic symptoms were mild, while a severe impairment was shown by the Brooke Upper Extremity Scale. Spirometry and muscle strength tests demonstrated severe alterations, while diurnal and nocturnal blood gases were normal, due to effective use of noninvasive ventilation. Independent predictors of the composite SWAL-QOL score were age, MIP and Compass 31. A MIP < 22 had an accuracy of 92% in predicting altered swallowing-related QoL. The composite SWAL-QOL score was worse in subjects > 30 years old than in younger patients (64.5±19.2 vs 76.6±16.3, p < 0.02), due to worse scores in items pertinent to mental and social functioning; scores in domains pertinent to the physical function were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In adult DMD, swallowing-related QoL, which is altered in most patients, can be predicted by age, inspiratory muscles strength and autonomic dysfunction symptoms. While swallowing function is already altered in young patients, swallowing-related QoL can progressively worsen with advancing age due to psychological and social factors.