The relationship between periodic limb movement during sleep and dyslipidaemia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Periodic limb movements during sleep and obstructive sleep apnea are both associated with increased sympathetic tone, and have been proposed as risk factors for heart diseases and, in particular, cardiovascular disease. As sympathetic system activation may lead to dyslipidaemia, periodic limb movements during sleep could be an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The aim of the study was to determine whether the presence of periodic limb movements during sleep affects serum lipid levels in obstructive sleep apnea. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non- high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were investigated in 4138 patients with obstructive sleep apnea in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA) cohort, divided into those with periodic limb movements during sleep index ≥ 15 per hr (n = 628) and controls (n = 3510). ANCOVA adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, apnea-hypopnea index, alcohol intake, smoking status, diabetes, insomnia and study site was used to assess differences in lipids between periodic limb movements during sleep and controls. Patients with periodic limb movements during sleep (24% female, 54.4 ± 12.1 years, body mass index 31.9 ± 5.8 kg m-2 , apnea-hypopnea index 36.7 ± 25.4 per hr) had higher triglyceride (1.81 ± 1.04 versus 1.69 ± 0.90 mmol L-1 , p = 0.002) and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.19 ± 0.34 versus 1.24 ± 0.37 mmol L-1 , p = 0.002) levels, whilst there was no difference in either total cholesterol (4.98 ± 1.10 versus 4.94 ± 1.07 mmol L-1 ), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.04 ± 0.96 versus 2.98 ± 0.98 mmol L-1 ) or non- high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.78 ± 1.10 versus 3.70 ± 1.05 mmol L-1 ) concentrations (all p > 0.05). The results remained unchanged after most sensitivity analyses. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea with periodic limb movements during sleep had more prevalent cardiovascular disease (11% versus 6%, p < 0.01). Periodic limb movements during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea is associated with dyslipidaemia independently of important confounders. Our results highlight periodic limb movements during sleep as an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in obstructive sleep apnea.

Bed partner perception of CPAP therapy on relationship satisfaction and intimacy-A European perspective from the ESADA network.

Obstructive sleep apnea increases morbidity and mortality risks. The most common treatment is continuous positive airway pressure, with nasal mask usage being important, but not always optimal. While most research on treatment adherence focuses on the patient, the bed partner's involvement may be detrimental. Our study aim is to obtain a European-wide picture of the bed partner's attitude and support towards continuous positive airway pressure therapy, including effects on relationship satisfaction and intimacy. The English translation of a German bed partner questionnaire, assessing relationship satisfaction and three major components (general attitude, perceived mask looks, intimacy effects) was distributed within the European Sleep Apnea Database Network and translated in participating countries' local language. Data were collected for 2 years. In total, 10 European countries (13 sleep centres) participated with 1546 questionnaires. Overall, 91% of bed partners had a positive attitude towards continuous positive airway pressure therapy, 86% perceived mask looks not negative, 64% stated no negative intimacy effects. More specifically, 71% mentioned improved sleep quality, 68% supported nightly device usage. For 41% of bed partners, relationship satisfaction increased (no change for 47%). These results were significantly more pronounced in Eastern/Southern Europe compared with Middle Europe, especially regarding intimacy effects. However, increased continuous positive airway pressure therapy length affected attitude negatively. These results provide necessary information to improve treatment strategies by including educational couple-focused approaches. Among others, we revealed that negative intimacy effects are not considered a barrier to continuous positive airway pressure adherence. These results may inspire more research identifying regional gaps with need for treatment adjustments.

Breath-holding physiology, radiological severity and adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients: A prospective validation study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 remains a major cause of respiratory failure, and means to identify future deterioration is needed. We recently developed a prediction score based on breath-holding manoeuvres (desaturation and maximal duration) to predict incident adverse COVID-19 outcomes. Here we prospectively validated our breath-holding prediction score in COVID-19 patients, and assessed associations with radiological scores of pulmonary involvement. METHODS: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients (N = 110, three recruitment centres) performed breath-holds at admission to provide a prediction score (Messineo et al.) based on mean desaturation (20-s breath-holds) and maximal breath-hold duration, plus baseline saturation, body mass index and cardiovascular disease. Odds ratios for incident adverse outcomes (composite of bi-level ventilatory support, ICU admission and death) were described for patients with versus without elevated scores (>0). Regression examined associations with chest x-ray (Brixia score) and computed tomography (CT; 3D-software quantification). Additional comparisons were made with the previously-validated '4C-score'. RESULTS: Elevated prediction score was associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes (N = 12/110), OR[95%CI] = 4.54[1.17-17.83], p = 0.030 (positive predictive value = 9/48, negative predictive value = 59/62). Results were diminished with removal of mean desaturation from the prediction score (OR = 3.30[0.93-11.72]). The prediction score rose linearly with Brixia score (ß[95%CI] = 0.13[0.02-0.23], p = 0.026, N = 103) and CT-based quantification (ß = 1.02[0.39-1.65], p = 0.002, N = 45). Mean desaturation was also associated with both radiological assessment. Elevated 4C-scores (≥high-risk category) had a weaker association with adverse outcomes (OR = 2.44[0.62-9.56]). CONCLUSION: An elevated breath-holding prediction score is associated with almost five-fold increased adverse COVID-19 outcome risk, and with pulmonary deficits observed in chest imaging. Breath-holding may identify COVID-19 patients at risk of future respiratory failure.

Sleep laboratories reopening and COVID-19: a European perspective.

Clinical activities regarding sleep disordered breathing (SDB) have been sharply interrupted during the initial phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic throughout Europe. In the past months, activities have gradually restarted, according to epidemiological phase of COVID-19 and national recommendations. The recent increase in cases throughout Europe demands a reconsideration of management strategies of SDB accordingly. Diagnosis of SDB and initiation of treatment pose some specific problems to be addressed to preserve the safety of patients and health personnel. This perspective document by a group of European sleep experts aims to summarise some different approaches followed in Europe and United States, which reflect national recommendations according to the epidemiological phase of the COVID-19 infection. Respiratory sleep medicine is likely to change in the near future, and use of telemedicine will grow to avoid unnecessary risks and continue to provide optimal care to patients. In addition, the document covers paediatric sleep studies and indications for titration of noninvasive ventilation, as well as precautions to be followed by patients who are already on positive airway pressure treatment. A single consensus document developed by the European Respiratory Society and national societies would be desirable to harmonise SDB management throughout Europe.

Breath-holding as a novel approach to risk stratification in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Despite considerable progress, it remains unclear why some patients admitted for COVID-19 develop adverse outcomes while others recover spontaneously. Clues may lie with the predisposition to hypoxemia or unexpected absence of dyspnea ('silent hypoxemia') in some patients who later develop respiratory failure. Using a recently-validated breath-holding technique, we sought to test the hypothesis that gas exchange and ventilatory control deficits observed at admission are associated with subsequent adverse COVID-19 outcomes (composite primary outcome: non-invasive ventilatory support, intensive care admission, or death). METHODS: Patients with COVID-19 (N = 50) performed breath-holds to obtain measurements reflecting the predisposition to oxygen desaturation (mean desaturation after 20-s) and reduced chemosensitivity to hypoxic-hypercapnia (including maximal breath-hold duration). Associations with the primary composite outcome were modeled adjusting for baseline oxygen saturation, obesity, sex, age, and prior cardiovascular disease. Healthy controls (N = 23) provided a normative comparison. RESULTS: The adverse composite outcome (observed in N = 11/50) was associated with breath-holding measures at admission (likelihood ratio test, p = 0.020); specifically, greater mean desaturation (12-fold greater odds of adverse composite outcome with 4% compared with 2% desaturation, p = 0.002) and greater maximal breath-holding duration (2.7-fold greater odds per 10-s increase, p = 0.036). COVID-19 patients who did not develop the adverse composite outcome had similar mean desaturation to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Breath-holding offers a novel method to identify patients with high risk of respiratory failure in COVID-19. Greater breath-hold induced desaturation (gas exchange deficit) and greater breath-holding tolerance (ventilatory control deficit) may be independent harbingers of progression to severe disease.

The respiratory rehabilitation Maugeri network service reconfiguration after 1 year of COVID-19.

As part of the Italian Health Service the respiratory ICS Maugeri network were reconfigured and several in-hospital programs were suspended to be substituted by workforce and facilities reorganization for acute and post-acute COVID-19 care need. The present review shows the time course variation of respiratory ICS network in terms of admissions diagnosis and outcomes. A comparative review of the admissions and outcome measures data (anthropometric, admission diagnosis, provenience, comorbidities, disability, symptoms, effort tolerance, disease impact, length of stay and discharge destinations) over 1 year period (March 2020-March 2021) was undertaken and compared to retrospective data from a corresponding 1 year (March 2019-March 2020) period to determine the impact of the network relocation on the delivery of pulmonary specialist rehabilitation to patients with complex needs during the pandemic episode. One of the changes implemented at the respiratory Maugeri network was the relocation of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation units from its 351 beds base to a repurposed 247 beds and a reduction in total number of admitted patients (n=3912 in pre-COVID time; n=2089 in post COVID time). All respiratory diagnosis, except COVID sequelae, decreased (chronic respiratory failure-CRF, COPD, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome-OSAS, interstitial lung disease-ILD, tracheostomized patients and other mixed diseases decreased of 734, 705, 157, 87, 79 and 326 units respectively). During the pandemic time, 265 post COVID sequelae with CRF were admitted for rehabilitation (12.62%), % of patients coming from acute hospital increased, LOS and NIV use remained stable while CPAP indication decreased. Disease impact, dyspnea and effort tolerance as their improvements after rehabilitation, were similar in the two periods.  Only baseline disability, expressed by Barthel index, seems higher in the 2° observation time as its improvement. Hospital deaths and transfers to acute hospitals were higher during pandemic crisis while home destination decreased. This review demonstrated impact of coronavirus pandemic situation, specifically the relocation of the respiratory inpatient rehabilitation wards in a huge Italian network.

Effect of nocturnal EPAP titration to abolish tidal expiratory flow limitation in COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia: a randomized, cross-over pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Tidal expiratory flow limitation (EFLT) promotes intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Applying non-invasive ventilation (NIV) with an expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) matching PEEPi improves gas exchange, reduces work of breathing and ineffective efforts. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a novel NIV mode that continuously adjusts EPAP to the minimum level that abolishes EFLT. METHODS: This prospective, cross-over, open-label study randomized patients to one night of fixed-EPAP and one night of EFLT-abolishing-EPAP. The primary outcome was transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (PtcCO2). Secondary outcomes were: peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), frequency of ineffective efforts, breathing patterns and oscillatory mechanics. RESULTS: We screened 36 patients and included 12 in the analysis (age 72 ± 8 years, FEV1 38 ± 14%Pred). The median EPAP did not differ between the EFLT-abolishing-EPAP and the fixed-EPAP night (median (IQR) = 7.0 (6.0, 8.8) cmH2O during night vs 7.5 (6.5, 10.5) cmH2O, p = 0.365). We found no differences in mean PtcCO2 (44.9 (41.6, 57.2) mmHg vs 54.5 (51.1, 59.0), p = 0.365), the percentage of night time with PtcCO2 > 45 mm Hg was lower (62(8,100)% vs 98(94,100)%, p = 0.031) and ineffective efforts were fewer (126(93,205) vs 261(205,351) events/hour, p = 0.003) during the EFLT-abolishing-EPAP than during the fixed-EPAP night. We found no differences in oxygen saturation and lung mechanics between nights. CONCLUSION: An adaptive ventilation mode targeted to abolish EFLT has the potential to reduce hypercapnia and ineffective efforts in stable COPD patients receiving nocturnal NIV. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClicalTrials.gov, NCT04497090. Registered 29 July 2020-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04497090 .

Microsleep as a marker of sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

We hypothesized that: (a) the presence of microsleep (MS) during a Maintenance Wakefulness Test (MWT) trial may represent a reliable marker of sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients; (b) the number of MSs will be higher in sleepy versus non-sleepy patients with a borderline MWT mean sleep latency; and (c) scoring MS during MWT analysis may help physicians to recognize patients with a higher degree of sleepiness. We analysed the MWT data of 112 treatment-naïve OSA patients: 20 with short sleep latency (SL, sleep latency <12.8 min), 43 with borderline latency (BL, sleep latency between 12.8 and 32.6 min) and 49 with normal latency (NL, sleep latency >32.6 min). Microsleep was identified in all SL, in 42 BL and in 18 NL patients, with a median latency of 5.6 min. Accordingly, patients were classified into two subgroups: group A (n = 43) with microsleep latency <5.6 min and group B (n = 69) with microsleep latency >5.6 min when present. The mean sleep latency in the MWT was 14.5 ± 7.5 min in group A and 34.6 ± 7.4 min in group B (p < 0.0001). The number of microsleep episodes during each MWT trial was higher in group A than in group B. Sleep latency survival curves demonstrated different patterns of sleep latency in these groups (log-rank test <0.0001). This finding was confirmed in a Cox proportional hazard analysis: the presence of a mean MS latency <5.6 min is associated with an increasing risk of falling asleep during the MWT (RR, 1.93; 95 CI 1.04-3.6; p = 0.03). We conclude that the detection of microsleep may help in discriminating OSA patients with and without daytime vigilance impairment.

Quantitative assessment of the quality of home sleep studies: A computer-assisted approach.

Home monitoring is the most practical means of collecting sleep data in large-scale research investigations. Because the portion of recording time with poor-quality data is higher than in attended polysomnography, a quantitative assessment of the quality of each signal should be recommended. Currently, only qualitative or semi-quantitative assessments are carried out, likely because of the lack of computer-based applications to carry out this task efficiently. This paper presents an innovative computer-assisted procedure designed to perform a quantitative quality assessment of standard respiratory signals recorded by Type 2 and Type 3 portable sleep monitors. The proposed system allows to assess the quality (good versus bad) of consecutive 1-min segments of thoraco-abdominal movements, oronasal, nasal airflow and oxygen saturation through an automatic classifier. The performance of the classifier was evaluated in a sample of 30 unattended polysomnography recordings, comparing the computer output with the consensus of two expert scorers. The difference (computer versus scorers) in the percentage of good-quality segments was on average very small, ranging from -3.1% (abdominal movements) to 0.8% (nasal flow), with an average total classification accuracy from 90.2 (oronasal flow) to 94.9 (nasal flow), a Sensitivity from 0.93 (oronasal flow) to 0.98 (nasal flow), and a Specificity from 0.74 (nasal flow) to 0.86 (abdominal movements). In practical applications, the scorer can run a check-and-edit procedure, further improving the classification accuracy. Considering a sample of 270 unattended polysomnography recordings (recording time: 545 ± 44 min), the average time taken for the check-and-edit procedure of each recording was 6.9 ± 2.1 min for all respiratory signals.

OSA and Prolonged Oxygen Desaturation During Sleep are Strong Predictors of Poor Outcome in IPF.

PURPOSE: Sleep Breathing Disorders (SBD) are frequently found in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and they are associated with worse quality of sleep and life and with higher mortality. The study aimed at evaluating the impact of SBD on prognosis (mortality or disease progression) in 35 patients with mild to moderate IPF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was diagnosed in 25/35 patients with IPF: 14/35 mild, 7/35 moderate, and 4/35 severe. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) definition, sleep-related hypoxemia was found in 9/35 patients with IPF. According to the presence/absence of SBD, IPF patients were divided into 4 groups: NO-SBD group (Group A, 25.7%), OSA without sleep-related hypoxemia (Group B, 48.5%), OSA with sleep-related hypoxemia group (Group C, 22.8%), and only 1/35 had sleep-related hypoxemia without OSA(Group D, 2.8%). Statistical analysis was focused only on group A, B, and C. Patients with OSAS and sleep-related hypoxemia (Group C) had the worse prognosis, both in terms of mortality or clinical deterioration. SBD were the only independent risk factor (Cox Proportional Hazards Multiple Regression Analysis) for mortality (HR 7.6% IC 1.2-36.3; p = 0.029) and disease progression (HR 9.95% IC 1.8-644.9; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: SBD are associated with a worse prognosis, both in terms of mortality or clinical progression. The presence of SBD should be explored in all IPF patients.

Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients on intrathecal analgesia for chronic pain.

OBJECTIVES: Intrathecal (IT) drug administration is an advanced technique in pain treatment algorithm for patients poorly responsive to systemic pharmacological treatment or less invasive techniques. The aim is to improve analgesia lowering side effects; despite this premise, many side effects of long-term IT therapy have been described, mainly related to opioid administration. We observed, in some of the patients regularly followed for pump refills in our Pain Unit, the appearance of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) interfering with daily life and work activity; this study aims to investigate the incidence of EDS in patients on IT analgesia with opioid or non-opioid drugs and its possible relationship with respiratory problems during sleep. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 21 patients on IT therapy for chronic pain answered the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The incidence of EDS in patients receiving IT opioids was compared to a control group not receiving opioids. In 10 patients, who performed polysomnography (PSG) and maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) for sleep complaints, we studied the relationship between PSG data and ESS scores and we verified the concordance of ESS and MWT results. RESULTS: 38% of the patients reported EDS, according to ESS data; all the patients with EDS were receiving an IT opioid. Even if some patients presented sleep apneas, we failed to correlate this data with daytime sleepiness. Subjective sleepiness is confirmed by the results of MWT. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that EDS is a frequent and important side effect of IT analgesia and it seems related to opioids administration.

Obstructive sleep apnea: one more target in cardiac rehabilitation.

ABSTRACT: Obstructive sleep apnea: one more target in Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder, often unrecognized and undiagnosed, in patients with established cardiovascular diseases. Considerable evidence is now available in support of a significant association between OSA and increased risk for cardiovascular disease morbidity. OSA has also been recognised as a potential public health issue associated with societal consequences including accidents and work economics. Treatment of OSA would reduce cardiovascular risk and the overall usage of health care resources. OSA might be a modifiable risk factor and screening for OSA should be implemented in cardiac rehabilitation settings.

The interplay between subclinical hypothyroidism and poor sleep quality: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SHYPO) and sleep disturbances is still poorly investigated. This systematic review aims to critically appraise the existing literature to provide more insights in understanding whether SHYPO favors sleep disturbances or it is the sleep disturbance per se that affects the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis regulation. METHODS: Original studies on sleep quality and duration in patients with SHYPO were searched in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases. Two reviewers independently screened articles for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Eight studies, including 2916 patients with SHYPO and 18,574 healthy controls, were retrieved. An overall agreement (7 out of 8 studies), about a positive correlation between decreased sleep quality and/or duration and SHYPO was observed. Five studies investigated sleep quality through self-reported surveys; only two studies explored both subjective and objective assessment of sleep quality with actigraphy (n = 1) or polysomnography (n = 1); finally, one study assessed subjective evaluation of sleep quality through a single question regarding the number of sleeping hours. A high level of heterogeneity among studies was manifest due to differences in population source, sleep measure assessment and criteria for diagnosing SHYPO. DISCUSSION: Overall, the existing literature data suggest a link between SHYPO and sleep disturbances, but further studies on larger populations of patients with homogeneous study designs and outcomes are warranted.

Evaluation and management of insomnia in the clinical practice in Italy: a 2023 update from the Insomnia Expert Consensus Group.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is the most reported sleep disorder in industrialized countries, affecting, in the chronic form, around 10% of the European population. In Italy, such a percentage seems to be even higher. Although insomnia can be an independent disorder, it is frequently described as comorbid condition and may precipitate, exacerbate, or prolong a broad range of physical and mental disorders. Evaluating and targeting insomnia in the Italian clinical practice should be a priority. METHODS: The present expert opinions and recommendations represent an update from 2020 and insights from Insomnia Expert Consensus Group, based on systematic reviews according to PRISMA on available options in Italy from January 2020 to March 2023. RESULTS: We evaluated 28 papers among international guidelines, expert opinions, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis produced during the last 26 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that symptoms of insomnia must be assessed in the Italian clinical practice by evaluating nocturnal and daytime symptoms, comorbid conditions, and lifestyle. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia should be the first option according to availability. The choice of the drug should be based on different factors including type of insomnia, age, comorbidities, and potential side effects. If the choice would be a Z-drug or a short-acting benzodiazepine (in subjects < 65 years old), the use should be in the short term (≤ 4 weeks). Indeed, eszopiclone, as a new option in Italy, may present a different profile and may be used for up to 6 months, also in the elderly. If the choice is melatonin, it should be used melatonin 2 mg prolonged release in adults ≥ 55 years for up to 13 weeks. A new dual orexin antagonist, daridorexant, is available in Italy; it has been shown to be effective in adults and elderly and it can be used for at least 3 months and up to 1 year.

Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C): a screening tool for Long COVID physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The management of Long COVID symptoms is necessary. This study proposes a screening tool for psycho-physical COVID-19 sequelae. Patients' experiences after COVID-19 are also described. METHOD: 84 COVID-19 patients (66.2±11.0 years old; 71.4% male) underwent a phone interview 1-2 years after the disease using the ad-hoc "Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Checklist (PASC-C)". It explores 30 physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms clustered into 10 areas, with possible clinical recommendations in case of high severity scores (>50) of a symptom or the presence of two or more ones within the same area. RESULTS: Overall, fatigue (69%), dyspnea (52.4%), memory disturbances (44%), joint-muscle pain (41.7%), vision/hearing loss (40.5%), anxiety (40.5%) persist one-two years after COVID-19 disease. Being a survivor was primarily defined in terms of being "lucky". CONCLUSIONS: PASC-C seems promising in monitoring psycho-physical sequelae of Long COVID and providing tailored suggestions to care for the patient over time.

Excessive daytime sleepiness works together with other sleep disorders in determining sleepiness-related events in shift workers.

BACKGROUND: Shift-workers may experience sleep disturbances more frequently than day-workers. Interactions between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), shift-work and other factors promoting sleepiness have never been studied. The present study was designed to assess the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), high risk for OSA (HR) and insomnia in shift-workers and day-workers and to evaluate their mutual effects on the risk of home-to-work commuting car accidents or episodes of falling asleep during work. METHODS: Workers (153 shift-workers, 85 day-workers) were evaluated for the presence of sleep disorders including HR and EDS. The relationships between sleepiness-related events, shift-work and sleep disorders were investigated by path analysis. RESULTS: Forty-nine subjects had HR. EDS was more frequent in shift-workers than in day-workers (16.3% vs. 5.9%, P = 0.01) and in workers with HR (28.6% vs. 8.4%, P < 0.001) or insomnia (35.7% vs. 9.5%, P < 0.001). Path analysis support the evidence that EDS was directly linked to shift-work, HR and insomnia. Car accidents or falling asleep at work were directly associated with EDS and shift-work, and indirectly (via EDS) with HR and insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: Development of EDS in shift-workers is not only due to work schedule, but also to the presence of sleep disorders. OSA and insomnia co-promote falling asleep during work and sleepiness-related car accidents.

Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome: state of the art.

Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is an extremely common sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) characterised by complete or partial collapse of the upper airways. These nocturnal phenomena cause high-frequency hypoxemic desaturations (or intermittent hypoxia, IH) during sleep and alterations in gas exchange. The result of IH is the development or worsening of cerebro-cardio-vascular, metabolic and other diseases, which cause a high risk of death. Hence, OSAHS is a multifactorial disease affecting several organs and systems and presenting with various clinical manifestations involving different medical branches. Although it has been estimated that about one billion individuals worldwide are affected by OSAHS, this SRBD remains underestimated also due to misinformation regarding both patients and physicians. Therefore, this review aims to provide information on the main symptoms and risk factors for the detection of individuals at risk of OSAHS, as well as to present the diagnostic investigations to be performed and the different therapeutic approaches. The scientific evidence reported suggest that OSAHS is an extremely common and complex disorder that has a large impact on the health and quality of life of individuals, as well as on healthcare expenditure. Moreover, given its multifactorial nature, the design and implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic programmes through a multidisciplinary approach are necessary for a tailor-made therapy for each patient.

Patients' Clinical and Psychological Status in Different COVID-19 Waves in Italy: A Quanti-Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 waves have been characterized by different clinical manifestations, a decrease of functional abilities, and the presence of psychological symptoms. The aims of this study were to investigate differences in physical and psychological symptoms during the three Italian waves of the coronavirus pandemic. METHODS: Patients undergoing a functional, cardiological and pneumological check-up follow-up at ICS Maugeri Institutes, 2-3 months after recovery from COVID-19 were consecutively recruited to participate in the study, completing a quanti-qualitative questionnaire about anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, and personal resources. RESULTS: 104 patients were recruited: 44 and 60 during the first and second/third pandemic waves, respectively. Physical comorbidities were more present in the second/third waves compared to the first one, while no significant differences were found in anxious and depressive symptoms, which were significantly higher than normal during the three waves; PTSD symptoms were reported by 56.3% of patients. Family, social support, and a positive mindset were described as resources to cope with the COVID-19 burden. Negative affects arose during outbreaks (panic) and the disease (fear), while positive affect (joy) characterized only the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: This study shows how psychophysical symptoms might change during the pandemic waves and highlights the importance of protective factors to balance the subjective distress.

Subjective HRQoL in Patients with Sleep Apnea Syndrome Who Underwent PAP Therapy in a Rehabilitation Setting: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is often associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aims of this study were to evaluate HRQoL, the clinical and psychological profile of suspected or verified OSA patients, and the impact of PAP therapy at 1-year follow-up. METHODS: At T0, OSA-suspected subjects underwent clinical, HRQoL, and psychological assessment. At T1, OSA patients underwent PAP therapy in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation setting. At 1 year follow-up, OSA patients were evaluated for the second time. RESULTS: At T0, OSA patients (n = 283) and suspected OSA subjects (n = 187) differed for AHI, BMI, and ESS. At T0, the PAP-treatment group (n = 101) showed moderate-severe anxious (18.7%) and depressive (11.9%) symptoms. At 1 year follow-up (n = 59), the sleep breathing pattern had normalized and there was a reduction of ESS scores and anxious symptoms. There was also an improvement in HRQoL (0.6 ± 0.4 vs. 0.7 ± 0.5, p = 0.032; 70.4 ± 19.0 vs. 79.2 ± 20.3, p = 0.001) and in satisfaction with sleep quantity (52.3 ± 31.7 vs. 71.4 ± 26.2, p = 0.001), sleep quality (48.1 ± 29.7 vs. 70.9 ± 27.1, p = 0.001), mood (58.5 ± 24.9 vs. 71.0 ± 25.6, p = 0.001), and physical resistance (61.6 ± 28.4 vs. 67.8 ± 27.4, p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Considering the impact of PAP treatment on patients' psychological and HRQoL evaluations that we observed, our data are valuable for unveiling different profiles characterizing this clinical population.