Trastornos respiratorios del sueño en Insuficiencia Cardíaca con fracción de eyección reducida

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Introduction: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). The presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) determines a worse prognosis in these patients. There are questionnaires aimed at evaluating the probability of OSA, although none have been validated in patients with HF. The primary objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of SDB in a cohort of patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) from the Multidisciplinary HF Unit (UMIC). As a secondary objective, to evaluate the usefulness of the Stop-Bang, Berlin, and 2ABN3M questionnaires for TRS screening in these patients. Methodology: Cross-sectional, observational study, including the active cohort of the UMIC, over 18 years with HFrEF, clinically stable and informed consent. Patients with cognitive, neurological or hearing impairment with limitations when conducting the interview were excluded. Patients with other limiting or uncontrolled sleep disorders, continuous home oxygen therapy requirements, did not enter the study. Berlin, Stop-Bang, and 2ABN3M questionnaires were administered, classifying the population into high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk groups of presenting SDB. All patients underwent outpatient respiratory polygraphy (RP). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize demographic variables, measures of central tendency and dispersion. SPSS statistical software was used. Results: 387 patients were included, 248 men (64.1%), mean age was 63.5 ± 0.6 years. The etiology of HF was ischemic in 41.6% of patients. The body mass index was 29.3 ± 0.3 kg/m2. LVEF was 34.2 ± 0.5, pro-BNP 1233.8 ± 137.6 pg/ml. The results of the questionnaires showed that 52.1% (198) presented a high risk of SDB according to the Berlin questionnaire. With Stop-Bang, 35.9% (139) were high risk, 42.1% (163) intermediate risk, and the remaining 22% (85) low risk. With the 2ABN3M score, 62% (240) were high risk. A total of 156 respiratory polygraphs (40.3% of the population) were performed. The cut-off point to define the presence of sleep apnea was considered to be an AHI >15. 58.3% (91) of the patients presented TRS. Of these, 95% presented obstructive apnea and 5% central apnea with periodic Cheyne-Stokes breathing. A high percentage (26%) presented AHI greater than 30. The sensitivity of the Berlin and Stop-Bang questionnaires was 75.8% and 91.2%, respectively, with a specificity of 53.8% and 24.6%. Regarding the 2ABN3M score, a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 44.6% were observed. Conclusions: The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with HFrEF was high in our cohort and obstructive apnea predominated. Given the high sensitivity (91.2%) of the Stop-Bang questionnaire found in our study, it could be useful as a screening tool for TRS in this type of patient. The importance of investigating this pathology whose clinical presentation can be non-specific and remain underdiagnosed is highlighted.

Introdução: Os distúrbios respiratórios do sono (DRS) são altamente prevalentes em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca (IC). A presença da síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) determina pior prognóstico nesses pacientes. Existem questionários destinados a avaliar a probabilidade de AOS, porém nenhum foi validado em pacientes com IC. O objetivo primário deste estudo foi estabelecer a prevalência de DRS em uma coorte de pacientes com IC e fração de ejeção reduzida (ICFEr) da Unidade Multidisciplinar de IC (UMIC). Como objetivo secundário, avaliar a utilidade dos questionários Stop-Bang, Berlin e 2ABN3M para triagem de SRT nesses pacientes. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, observacional, inclui a coorte ativa da UMIC, maiores de 18 anos com ICFEr, clinicamente estável e consentimento informado. Foram excluídos pacientes com deficiência cognitiva, neurológica ou auditiva com limitações na realização da entrevista. Pacientes com outros distúrbios do sono limitantes ou descontrolados, requisitos de oxigenoterapia domiciliar contínua, não entraram no estudo. Os questionários Berlin, Stop-Bang e 2ABN3M foram aplicados, classificando a população em grupos de alto risco, risco intermediário e baixo risco de apresentar DRS. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à poligrafia respiratória (PR) ambulatorial. A estatística descritiva foi utilizada para caracterizar as variáveis ​​demográficas, medidas de tendência central e dispersão. Foi utilizado o software estatístico SPSS. Resultados: foram incluídos 387 pacientes, 248 homens (64,1%), com idade média de 63,5 ± 0,6 anos. A etiologia da IC foi isquêmica em 41,6% dos pacientes. O índice de massa corporal foi de 29,3 ± 0,3 kg/m2. FEVE foi de 34,2 ± 0,5, pro-BNP 1233,8 ± 137,6 pg/ml. Os resultados dos questionários mostraram que 52,1% (198) apresentaram alto risco de DRS de acordo com o questionário de Berlim. Com Stop-Bang, 35,9% (139) eram de alto risco, 42,1% (163) de risco intermediário e os restantes 22% (85) de baixo risco. Com a pontuação 2ABN3M, 62% (240) eram de alto risco. Foram realizados 156 polígrafos respiratórios (40,3% da população). O ponto de corte para definir a presença de apneia do sono foi considerado um IAH >15. 58,3% (91) dos pacientes apresentaram SRT. Destes, 95% apresentavam apnéia obstrutiva e 5% apnéia central com respiração Cheyne-Stokes periódica. Uma alta porcentagem (26%) apresentou IAH maior que 30. A sensibilidade dos questionários Berlin e Stop-Bang foi de 75,8% e 91,2%, respectivamente, com especificidade de 53,8% e 24,6%. Em relação ao escore 2ABN3M, observou-se sensibilidade de 71,4% e especificidade de 44,6%. Conclusões: A prevalência de distúrbios respiratórios do sono em pacientes com ICFEr foi alta em nossa coorte, com predominância de apneias obstrutivas. Dada a alta sensibilidade (91,2%) do questionário Stop-Bang encontrado em nosso estudo, ele pode ser útil como uma ferramenta de triagem para ERT nesse tipo de paciente. Ressalta-se a importância da investigação dessa patologia cuja apresentação clínica pode ser inespecífica e permanecer subdiagnosticada.

"Multivariate analysis of the impact of sleep and working hours on medical errors: a MICE approach".

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to describe the relationship between working conditions, sleep and psycho-affective variables and medical errors. METHODS: This was an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study in which 661 medical residents answered questionnaires about working conditions, sleep and psycho-affective variables. Actigraphic sleep parameters and peripheral temperature circadian rhythm were measured in a subgroup of 38 subjects. Bivariate and multivariate predictors of medical errors were assessed. RESULTS: Medical residents reported working 66.2 ± 21.9 weekly hours. The longest continuous shift was of 28.4 ± 10.9 h. They reported sleeping 6.1 ± 1.6 h per day, with a sleep debt of 94 ± 129 min in workdays. A high percentage of them reported symptoms related to psycho-affective disorders. The longest continuous shift duration (OR = 1.03 [95% CI, 1.00-1.05], p = 0.01), working more than six monthly on-call shifts (OR = 1.87 [95% CI, 1.16-3.02], p = 0.01) and sleeping less than six hours per working day (OR = 1.66 [95% CI, 1.10-2.51], p = 0.02) were independently associated with self-reported medical errors. The report of medical errors was associated with an increase in the percentage of diurnal sleep (2.2% [95% CI, 0.1-4.3] vs 14.5% [95% CI, 5.9-23.0]; p = 0.01) in the actigraphic recording. CONCLUSIONS: Medical residents have a high working hour load that affect their sleep opportunities, circadian rhythms and psycho-affective health, which are also related to the report of medical errors. These results highlight the importance of implementing multidimensional strategies to improve medical trainees' sleep and wellbeing, increasing in turn their own and patients' safety.

Screen use, sleep duration, daytime somnolence, and academic failure in school-aged adolescents.

In this study, we examined the relationship between screen time use, sleep characteristics, daytime somnolence, and academic performance in school-aged adolescents. We surveyed 1,257 12- to 18-year-old adolescents attending 52 schools in urban or suburban areas of Argentina. We recorded the daily exposure to various screen-based activities, including video- and online-gaming, social media, TV or streaming. Screen time and device type in the hour before bedtime, sleep patterns during weekdays and weekends, somnolence (Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale score), and grades in language and mathematics were also assessed. Structural Equation Modelling was used to identify a path connecting the latent variables. Results are expressed as standardized regression weights (srw). Missing data were present in 393 subjects, and thus the final sample consisted of 864 complete responses. Daytime somnolence (i.e., PDSS score ≥ 15) was observed in 614 participants (71%), and academic failure (i.e., grades < 7/10) in 352 of them (41%). Time spent using video gaming consoles was negatively associated with sleep duration (srw = -0.22, p<0.01) and positively connected with daytime somnolence (srw = 0.11, p<0.01). Use of mobile devices was associated with lower academic performance (srw = -0.11, p<0.01). Sleep duration was inversely related to daytime somnolence (srw = -0.27, p<0.01), which was in turn negatively associated with academic performance (srw = -0.18, p<0.05). Bedtime computer use did not influence any outcome. In summary, among adolescents, screen use adversely affected nighttime sleep, daytime somnolence, and academic performance. These findings call for the implementation of educational public campaigns aimed at promoting healthy sleep and reducing screen exposure among adolescents.

Visuomotor Adaptation Modulates the Clustering of Sleep Spindles Into Trains.

Sleep spindles are thought to promote memory consolidation. Recently, we have shown that visuomotor adaptation (VMA) learning increases the density of spindles and promotes the coupling between spindles and slow oscillations, locally, with the level of spindle-SO synchrony predicting overnight memory retention. Yet, growing evidence suggests that the rhythmicity in spindle occurrence may also influence the stabilization of declarative and procedural memories. Here, we examined if VMA learning promotes the temporal organization of sleep spindles into trains. We found that VMA increased the proportion of spindles and spindle-SO couplings in trains. In agreement with our previous work, this modulation was observed over the contralateral hemisphere to the trained hand, and predicted overnight memory retention. Interestingly, spindles grouped in a cluster showed greater amplitude and duration than isolated spindles. The fact that these features increased as a function of train length, provides evidence supporting a biological advantage of this temporal arrangement. Our work opens the possibility that the periodicity of NREM oscillations may be relevant in the stabilization of procedural memories.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the city of Puerto Madryn: Underdiagnosis and relevance of children in the pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Reported cases of COVID-19 may be underestimated due to mild or asymptomatic cases and a low testing rate in the general population. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population and how it compares with the data on SARS-CoV-2 cases reported by a national health surveillance system (SNVS 2.0). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a population-based, seroepidemiological, cross-sectional study in the city of Puerto Madryn, a middle size city in the Province of Chubut, Argentina. The study period was between March 3 and April 17, 2021. The sample size was calculated using the technique of calculation of confidence intervals for a proportion. Participants were selected using stratified and cluster probability sampling. A total of 1405 subjects were invited to participate in the study. Participants were divided into the following four age groups: 1) 0 to 14, 2) 15 to 39, 3) 40 to 64, and 4) 65 or older. After informed consent was obtained, a blood sample was taken by puncture of the fingertip, and a structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate demographics, socioeconomic status, level of education, comorbidities and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. COVID-19 seroprevalence was documented using an immunoenzymatic test for the in vitro detection of IgG antibodies specific to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 987 participants completed the survey. Seropositivity in the full study population was 39,2% and in those under 15 years of age, 47.1%. Cases reported by the SNSV 2.0 amounted to 9.35% of the total population and 1.4% of those under 15 years of age. INTERPRETATION: The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the general population is four times higher than the number of cases reported by the SNVS 2.0 in the city of Puerto Madryn. For each child under the age of 15 identified by the SNVS 2.0 with COVID-19, there are more than 30 unrecognized infections. Seroepidemiological studies are important to define the real extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a particular community. Children may play a significant role in the progression of the current pandemic.

Motor Learning Promotes the Coupling between Fast Spindles and Slow Oscillations Locally over the Contralateral Motor Network.

Recent studies from us and others suggest that traditionally declarative structures mediate some aspects of the encoding and consolidation of procedural memories. This evidence points to the existence of converging physiological pathways across memory systems. Here, we examined whether the coupling between slow oscillations (SO) and spindles, a mechanism well established in the consolidation of declarative memories, is relevant for the stabilization of human motor memories. To this aim, we conducted an electroencephalography study in which we quantified various parameters of these oscillations during a night of sleep that took place immediately after learning a visuomotor adaptation (VMA) task. We found that VMA increased the overall density of fast (≥12 Hz), but not slow (<12 Hz), spindles during nonrapid eye movement sleep, stage 3 (NREM3). This modulation occurred rather locally over the hemisphere contralateral to the trained hand. Although adaptation learning did not affect the density of SOs, it substantially enhanced the number of fast spindles locked to the active phase of SOs. The fact that only coupled spindles predicted overnight memory retention points to the relevance of this association in motor memory consolidation. Our work provides evidence in favor of a common mechanism at the basis of the stabilization of declarative and motor memories.

Clinical presentation and outcomes of the first patients with COVID-19 in Argentina: Results of 207079 cases from a national database.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence on the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Latin America. We present findings from a nationwide study in Argentina. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is disease severity measures and risk factors are associated with admission to an intensive care unit and mortality? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the COVID-19 database of the Integrated Argentina Health Information System, encompassing the period of March 3rd to October 2nd, 2020, using a standardized case report form that included information on contact history, clinical signs and symptoms, and clinical diagnosis. Information was collected at the initial site of care and follow-up conducted through calls by the regional healthcare authorities. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as having a positive result through sequencing or real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens. RESULTS: RT-PCR testing was positive in 738,776 cases. Complete datasets were available for analysis in 207,079 cases. Mean age was 42.9±18.8 years, 50.0% were males. Frequent co-existing conditions included hypertension (19.2%), diabetes (9.7%), asthma (6.1%) and obesity (5.2%). Most common symptoms included fever (58.5%), cough (58.0%), headache (45.4%), and sore throat (42.1%). Death or ICU admission were independently associated with older age, male, coma, dyspnea or tachypnea, and seizures, with underlying co-morbidities such as immunodeficiency, chronic renal failure, and liver disease showing the strongest effects. INTERPRETATION: Most cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Argentina were mild and had a favorable outcome, but fatality rates were relatively elevated. Risk factors for adverse outcome included older age, male sex, coma and seizures, and the concurrent presence of several morbidities. These data may be useful for healthcare providers and healthcare policy makers of low-middle income and Latin American countries to guide decisions toward optimized care during the pandemic.

Sleep misalignment and circadian rhythm impairment in long-haul bus drivers under a two-up operations system.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to describe working and sleep conditions and to assess how sleep opportunities are associated with obtained sleep and alertness, in a sample of long-haul bus drivers working with a two-up operations system. METHODS: Measures of subjective sleep and sleepiness, actigraphy, circadian temperature rhythm, and psychomotor vigilance tasks were obtained from a sample of 122 drivers from Argentina. Variables were compared between high and low fatigue risk groups, which were formed using a median split of a fatigue risk score. The score was calculated based on drivers' total working hours, maximum shift duration, minimum short break duration, maximum night work per seven days, and long break frequencies. RESULTS: Considering a standardized one-day period, sleep in the bus accounted for 1.9±0.1 h of total sleep (57±1% efficiency), sleep at destination for 1.6±0.2 h of total sleep (90±1% efficiency), and sleep at home for 3.8±0.2 h of total sleep (89±1% nap efficiency and 90±1% anchor sleep efficiency). In drivers exposed to high-risk working schedules, the circadian temperature rhythm was weaker (lower % of variance explained by the model) (22.0±1.7% vs. 27.6±2.0%, p <0.05) and without a significant acrophase. CONCLUSIONS: Drivers obtained a total amount of weekly sleep similar to the recommended levels for adults, but distributed at different locations and at different times during the day. High-risk working schedules were associated with disruption of circadian temperature rhythms. These results point out to the need of the implementation of shift-work scheduling strategies to minimize sleep misalignment and circadian desynchronization in long-haul bus drivers.

Accessibility and adherence to positive airway pressure treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a multicenter study in Latin America.

PURPOSE: Information on access and adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment is lacking at the regional level in Latin America. This study characterized access and adherence to PAP in patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Latin America. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, conducted at 9 sleep centers across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Adults diagnosed with moderate-severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 15/h) in the previous 12-18 months were eligible. Anthropometrics, health coverage, and OSA severity data were collected. Data on access to therapy, barriers to access, adherence, and factors related to non-compliance were obtained via standardized telephone survey. RESULTS: Eight hundred eighty patients (70% male, 54 ± 13 years, AHI 49 ± 28/h, body mass index 32 ± 7 kg/m2) were included. Four hundred ninety patients (56%) initiated PAP, 70 (14%) discontinued therapy during the first year (mainly due to intolerance), and 420 (48%) were still using PAP when surveyed. Health insurance was private in 36.9% of patients, via the social security system in 31.1%, and via the state in 13.3%, and 18.7% did not have any coverage; 49.5% of patients had to pay all equipment costs. Reasons for not starting PAP were unclear or absent indication (42%), coverage problems (36%), and lack of awareness of OSA burden (14%). Patients with better adherence were older (55.3 ± 13 vs 52 ± 13; p = 0.002) and had more severe OSA (AHI 51.8 ± 27 vs 45.6 ± 27; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Less than half moderate-severe OSA patients started and continue to use PAP. Unclear or absent medical indication and financial limitations were the most relevant factors limiting access to therapy.

Tratamiento con presión positiva de la Apnea Obstructiva del Sueño. Posición de la Asociación Argentina de Medicina Respiratoria / Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Positive Pressure. Position of the Argentinian Association of Respiratory Medicine

La Sección de Sueño, Oxigenoterapia y Otros Tratamientos Crónicos Domiciliarios, de la Asociación Argentina de Medicina Respiratoria (AAMR) se planteó desarrollar en nuestro país un documento formal que exponga la base científica y costo económica de la cobertura del tratamiento del síndrome de apneas e hipopneas obstructivas durante el sueño (SAHOS). Esta iniciativa se basó en la necesidad de analizar la visión de expertos locales que se desempeñan en la realidad coyuntural cotidiana de nuestro país, para elaborar un documento informativo para miembros del equipo de salud. A su vez, exhorta a los diferentes actores del sistema a determinar pautas claras que sirvan de referencia para la generación de políticas públicas. La agenda se inició en septiembre de 2018 en un grupo de redacción. Luego, revisores de cinco provincias argentinas efectuaron una extensa valoración de la evidencia publicada. Para la edición final se realizó una reunión presencial de discusión y generación de consenso. Se plantearon como objetivos; actualizar la base científica que define al SAHOS como problema de salud de proporciones epidémicas con consecuencias demostrables en la salud, analizar los datos de costo-efectividad del tratamiento con CPAP para las formas moderadas a severas y leves con síntomas y unificar conceptos en relación con la calidad mínima necesaria en los tratamientos que se ofrecen. Finalmente, se analiza la situación en la Argentina sobre la base a datos publicados y se presenta una propuesta de mejora en tres niveles: social y económico, logístico-administrativo y clínico

The Sleep, Oxygen Therapy and Other Home Chronic Treatments Section of the Argentinian Association of Respiratory Medicine (AAMR, for its acronym in Spanish) proposed the development in our country of a formal document exposing the scientific and cost-economical foundation of the coverage for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). This initiative was based on the need to analyze the vision of local experts who work in the daily current reality of our country, in order to create an informative document for the members of the medical staff. In turn, it encourages the different members of the system to determine clear guidelines that could be used as reference for generating public policies. The agenda began in September, 2018 within a writing staff. Then, editors from five Argentinian provinces made a thorough assessment of published evidence. For the final edition, a face-to-face meeting was arranged to discuss and reach a consensus. The suggested objectives were: to update the scientific base that defines the OSAHS as a health problem of epidemic proportions with health consequences; to analyze cost-efficacy data of CPAP treatment for moderate to severe and mild-with-symptoms forms of the disease and to unify concepts in relation to the minimum necessary quality of treatments to be offered. Finally, the situation in Argentina is analyzed basing on published data, and a proposal is presented for improvement in three levels: social and economic, logistic-administrative and clinical.

Guías prácticas de diagnóstico y tratamiento del síndrome de apneas e hipopneas obstructivas del sueño: Actualización 2019: Sección Sueño, Oxigenoterapia y Tratamientos Crónicos Domiciliarios. Asociación Argentina de Medicina Respiratoria / Practical guides for diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apneas and hypopneas syndrome: 2019 update. Sleep, Oxygen Therapy and Chronic Home Treatments Section. Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine

Las apneas del sueño constituyen uno de los trastornos respiratorios crónicos de mayor relevancia en la población general, por su prevalencia, los efectos que produce en los pacientes que las padecen y su impacto en la salud pública. En el año 2013 se publicaron las primeras Guías Prácticas de diagnóstico y tratamiento del síndrome de apneas e hipopneas obstructivas del sueño de la AAMR. Desde entonces se ha generado un volumen significativo de evidencia científica sobre estos trastornos, lo que ha motivado la actualización de estas Guías Prácticas. Un grupo de trabajo, conformado por profesionales entrenados y con experiencia en trastornos respiratorios del sueño, revisó la bibliografía y actualizó los conceptos vertidos en las guías 2013. En su desarrollo se define el cuadro, los criterios diagnósticos y de gravedad, los factores de riesgo, las formas de presentación y sus consecuencias. Se detalla la metodología diagnóstica, sus distintas variables e indicaciones y los requisitos técnicos para su validación e interpretación. Por último se desarrollan las alternativas terapéuticas, así como también aspectos prácticos de su implementación. El objetivo central fue generar una herramienta de divulgación científica, que determine pautas claras que sirvan de referencia para la formación de profesionales, la atención de pacientes con esta enfermedad y la generación de políticas públicas.

Sleep apnea is one of the most relevant chronic respiratory disorders in the general population, given its prevalence, the effects it produces in patients and their impact on public health. In 2013, the first Practical Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome of the AAMR were published. Since then, a significant volume of scientific evidence on these disorders has been generated, which has motivated the updating of these Practical Guidelines. A working group of trained professionals with experience in sleep breathing disorders reviewed the literature and updated the concepts included in the 2013 guidelines. Clinical aspects, diagnostic and severity criteria, risk factors, consequences and diagnostic strategy are addressed, as well as therapeutic alternatives and practical aspects of their implementation. The main objective was to generate practical guidelines that constitute a reference for the training of professionals, the care of patients with this disease and the generation of public policies.

Hours of service regulations for professional drivers in continental Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the hours of service provisions in continental Latin America. DESIGN: Information on regulations of service hours was extracted from either the national transportation authorities or ministries of transportation (or the equivalent institution) from each country. SETTING: Seventeen sovereign countries in continental Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela). PARTICIPANTS: N/A INTERVENTION (IF ANY): N/A MEASUREMENT: Data on (a) limit on work hours, (b) mandatory daily time off (or rest), (c) overall schedule (mandatory weekly time off), and (d) daily breaks were extracted and summarized. RESULTS: Of the 17 countries surveyed, 9 countries have provisions limiting the daily amount of hours of service for professional drivers. Ten have provisions for mandatory daily rest, but only 5 have explicit provisions limiting the number of continuous working days, with mandatory uninterrupted time off >35 hours. Eight countries have provisions for mandatory breaks that limit the hours of continuous driving (ranging from 3 to 5:30 hours). CONCLUSION: Regulations that govern a population with 6 million injuries and over 100,000 deaths per year due to motor vehicle accidents leave important gaps. A minority, 6, of the countries regulated all 3 aspects; daily hours, breaks, and time off, and 3 regulate none of these. The regulations are less precise and restrictive than those in high-income countries, despite the doubled road injury mortality, and likely expose professional drivers and other road users to an increased risk of fatigue-related accidents.

Trastornos respiratorios del sueño durante el embarazo / Respiratory sleep disorders during pregnancy

El embarazo es un momento especial en la vida de las mujeres. En la futura madre conviven la alegría por la gesta en curso con los temores de que algo pueda suceder en la evolución de la misma, tanto en ella, como en el niño que va creciendo dentro de su cuerpo. Sin dudas, los cambios anatómicos y hormonales generan variaciones funcionales de distintos sistemas y órganos con la posible aparición de patologías con directa repercusión para el binomio en cuestión. En este artículo haremos una revisión de la relación entre la evolución del embarazo y patologías asociadas al sueño de la gestante así como los posibles métodos diagnósticos y terapéuticos con los que contamos para, finalmente, proponer un algoritmo para sistematizar la búsqueda de la patología del sueño en la mujer embarazada.

Pregnancy is a special condition during women life where several physiologic, morphologic, metabolic and emotional changes take place. Due to the interaction of these changes sleep complaints are frequent during pregnancy. Breathing disorders during sleep are unusual in young non-obese women; however pregnancy may promote snoring and in certain cases sleep apnea. In this review we will discuss the relationship between pregnancy progression and sleep complaints. We will present different approaches to confirm the diagnosis as well as the therapeutic strategies with special focus in sleep apnea. An algorithm for the detection and treatment of sleep breathing disorders during sleep is proposed.

La actigrafía como herramienta diagnóstica / ROLE OF ACTIGRAPHY IN THE STUDY OF SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS : ACCURACY, SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF ACTIGRAPHY FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SLEEP DISORDERS

El diagnóstico y tratamiento de los trastornos de sueño, especialmente los asociados al Ritmo Circadiano, utilizan métodos costosos, invasivos e incómodos tanto para los pacientes como para los médicos, quienes deben realizar un seguimiento de los hábitos de sueño. La actigrafía ha sido aceptada como una herramienta válida para el estudio y diagnóstico de trastornos circadianos. Más de 300 dispositivos se comercializan actualmente para el uso personal, pero pocos de estos han sido probados para un uso diagnóstico. En este estudio comparativo compuesto por 21 sujetos, se informa acerca de los patrones de sueño y actividad registrados por algunos dispositivos, como Micro-Mini Motionlogger Watch, Condor Act Trust, MisFit Flash y Fitbit Flex. No se observan diferencias significativas en el análisis del patrón de actividad de descanso entre dispositivos. Tampoco se observan para el sueño Onset (inicio), el Tiempo Total de Sueño y la Eficiencia del Sueño. Según el tipo de estudio y análisis deseado, éstos dispositivos pueden resultar alternativos para los registros de actividad y sueño.

This is a comparative analysis of actigraphy performance in comparison with different sleep Parameters. Actigraphy is a non-invasive and valid method of monitoring human rest activity cycles. The report describes the role of actigraphy to assess the study of sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythms, evaluating its development as a diagnostic tool, with a comparative analysis of actigraphy performance in comparison with different sleep parameters. The diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, especially those associated with the cicardian rhythm, employ very expensive costs, invasives or unconfortable for the patients the same as for physicians, who must perform a demand of the sleeping habits. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders has identified more than 80 sleep disorders, all of them have associated treatments. Actinography has been accepted as a valid tool for the study and diagnosis of circadian disorders. All these aspects are discussed in the article

The impact of home safety on sleep in a Latin American country.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the impact of feelings of safety in one's neighborhood and home on sleep quality and sleep duration. DESIGN: The design is a cross-sectional survey using face-to-face interviews, as part of the Argentine Social Debt Observatory assessment. SETTING: The setting is a nationwide data from Argentina. PARTICIPANTS: There are 5636 participants aged 18 years and older. INTERVENTION (IF ANY): N/A. MEASUREMENTS: The relationships between both subjective sleep quality and self-reported sleep duration, categorized as short (<7 hours), normal (7-8 hours), and long (>8 hours) with safety in one's neighborhood and one's home, were analyzed. Age, sex, obesity, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and education were included as covariates. RESULTS: Feeling unsafe in one's home was strongly associated with poorer sleep quality and with short sleep duration. Feeling unsafe in one's neighborhood was initially associated with reduced sleep quality but was no longer significant after controlling for home safety. In contrast, we found no correlation between safety measures and long sleep. In analyses stratified by sex, feeling unsafe in one's home was associated with poor sleep quality in women but not in men. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that safety in the home has an important effect on both sleep quality and duration, particularly among women. In contrast, after accounting for safety in the home, neighborhood safety does not impact sleep. Further research is warranted to identify mechanisms underlying the sex differences in susceptibility to poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration, as well as to assess whether interventions addressing safety in the home can be used to improve sleep and overall health.

Sleep and quality of life in urban poverty: the effect of a slum housing upgrading program.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a housing transition on sleep quality and quality of life in slum dwellers, participating in a slum housing upgrading program. DESIGN: Observational before-and-after study with a convergent-parallel mixed method design. SETTING: Five slums located in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 150 slum dwellers benefited by a housing program of the nonprofit organization TECHO (spanish word for "roof"). INTERVENTIONS: Participants moved from their very low-quality house to a basic prefabricated 18 m(2) modular house provided by TECHO. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and World Health Organization Quality of Life brief scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were administered before and after housing upgrading. Data about housing conditions, income, education, sleeping conditions, and cardiovascular risk were also collected. Semistructured interviews were used to expand and nuance quantitative data obtained from a poorly educated sample. Results showed that sleep quality significantly increased after the housing program (z = -6.57, P < 0.001). Overall quality of life (z = -6.85, P < 0.001), physical health domain (z = -4.35, P < 0.001), psychological well-being domain (z = -3.72, P < 0.001) and environmental domain (z = -7.10, P < 0.001) of WHOQOL-BREF were also improved. Interviews demonstrated the importance of serenity for improving quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: A minimal improvement in the quality of basic housing can significantly increase sleep quality and quality of life among slum dwellers. Understanding sleep and daily life conditions in informal urban settlements could help to define what kind of low-cost intervention may improve sleep quality, quality of life, and reduce existent sleep disparity.

A multi-step pathway connecting short sleep duration to daytime somnolence, reduced attention, and poor academic performance: an exploratory cross-sectional study in teenagers.

BACKGROUND: A multi-step causality pathway connecting short sleep duration to daytime somnolence and sleepiness leading to reduced attention and poor academic performance as the final result can be envisaged. However this hypothesis has never been explored. OBJECTIVE: To explore consecutive correlations between sleep duration, daytime somnolence, attention levels, and academic performance in a sample of school-aged teenagers. METHODS: We carried out a survey assessing sleep duration and daytime somnolence using the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS). Sleep duration variables included week-days' total sleep time, usual bedtimes, and absolute weekday to-weekend sleep time difference. Attention was assessed by d2 test and by the coding subtest from the WISC-IV scale. Academic performance was obtained from literature and math grades. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the independent relationships between these variables, while controlling for confounding effects of other variables, in one single model. Standardized regression weights (SWR) for relationships between these variables are reported. RESULTS: Study sample included 1,194 teenagers (mean age: 15 years; range: 13-17 y). Sleep duration was inversely associated with daytime somnolence (SWR = -0.36, p < 0.01) while sleepiness was negatively associated with attention (SWR = -0.13, p < 0.01). Attention scores correlated positively with academic results (SWR = 0.18, p < 0.01). Daytime somnolence correlated negatively with academic achievements (SWR = -0.16, p < 0.01). The model offered an acceptable fit according to usual measures (RMSEA = 0.0548, CFI = 0.874, NFI = 0.838). A Sobel test confirmed that short sleep duration influenced attention through daytime somnolence (p < 0.02), which in turn influenced academic achievements through reduced attention (p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Poor academic achievements correlated with reduced attention, which in turn was related to daytime somnolence. Somnolence correlated with short sleep duration.

Heart rate nonlinear dynamics during sudden hypoxia at 8230 m simulated altitude.

OBJECTIVE: Acute hypobaric hypoxia is associated with autonomic changes that bring a global reduction of linear heart rate variability (HRV). Although changes in nonlinear HRV can be associated with physiologic stress and are relevant predictors of fatal arrhythmias in ischemic heart disease, to what extent these components vary in sudden hypobaric hypoxia is not known. METHODS: Twelve military pilots were supplemented with increasing concentrations of oxygen during decompression to 8230 m in a hypobaric chamber. Linear and nonlinear HRV was evaluated at 8230 m altitude before, during, and after oxygen flow deprivation. Linear HRV was assessed through traditional time-domain and frequency-domain analysis. Nonlinear HRV was quantified through the short-term fractal correlation exponent alpha (alphas) and the Sample Entropy index (SampEn). RESULTS: Hypoxia was related to a decrease in linear HRV indexes at all frequency levels. A non-significant decrease in alphas (basal, 1.39 +/- 0.07; hypoxia, 1.11 +/- 0.13; recovery, 1.41 +/- 0.05; P = .054) and a significant increase in SampEn (basal, 1.07 +/- 0.11; hypoxia, 1.45 +/- 0.12; recovery, 1.43 +/- 0.09; P = .018) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The observed pattern of diminished linear HRV and increased nonlinear HRV is similar to that seen in subjects undergoing heavy exercise or in patients with ischemic heart disease at high risk for ventricular fibrillation.

Brief review: diurnal rhythms, obesity and educational achievement in South american cultures.

Obesity causes or exacerbates a host of medical conditions, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and endocrine diseases. In addition, there is growing evidence that obesity and sleep problems are linked in adolescents and that they are significant obstacles for learning, having a negative impact on behavior, and attainment of social competence and quality of life. The theoretical basis of this relationship is discussed. Several studies investigating the relationships between obesity, sleep disturbance, and a number of important negative outcomes are reviewed.