Cost-utility and budget impact analysis of CPAP therapy compared to no treatment in the management of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in Colombia from a third-party payer perspective.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct cost-utility and budget impact analysis of providing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy versus no treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Colombia from a third-party payer perspective. METHODS: We used a Markov model to assess the cost-utility and budget impact analysis of CPAP in patients over 40 years old with moderate to severe OSA. Data on effectiveness and utility values were obtained from published literature. A discount rate of 5% was applied for outcomes and costs. ICER was calculated and compared against the threshold estimated for Colombia, which is 86% of the GDP per capita. RESULTS: Over a lifetime horizon, the base case analysis showed the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained with CPAP therapy was COP$3,503,804 (USD$1,011 in 2020 prices). The budget impact analysis showed that the adoption of CPAP therapy in the target population would lead to a cumulative net budget impact of COP$411,722 million (USD$118,784,412 in, 2020 prices) over five years of time horizon. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP was cost-effective compared to no-treatment in OSA. According to the budget impact analysis, adopting this technology would require a budget allocation that is partially offset by reduced number of strokes and traffic accident events.

Sex differences regarding the impact of a standardized adaptation session in Colombian patients with obstructive sleep apnea and poor adherence to positive airway pressure devices / Diferencias por sexo respecto al impacto de una sesión de adaptación en pacientes colombianos con apnea obstructiva del sueño y mala adherencia a dispositivos de presión positiva

Abstract Introduction: Positive airway pressure (PAP) is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but adherence to this device is poor. The Sleep and Breathing Disorders Clinic of Fundación Neumológica Colombiana (FNC) has a standardized adaptation session (SAS) aimed at patients with difficulties in using PAP devices. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a SAS in short-term adherence to PAP therapy in patients with OSA, and to determine differences by sex. Materials and methods: Before-and-after single cohort study conducted in 40 people aged >18 years with an apnea-hypopnea index >15/hour and treated at the FNC, Bogotá D.C. (Colombia) between 2015 and 2017, who attended a SAS due to poor adherence to PAP therapy (defined as <4 hours use in 70% of nights). Data on the hours of use of the PAP device and the percentage of days in which it was used >4 hours were recorded before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in patients' adherence. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The paired samples t-test was used for the comparison of variables before and after the intervention. Results: A significant increase was observed in PAP device use (1.8 hours, 95%CI: 1.3-2.3; p<0.001) and in the percentage of days it was used >4 hours (35.6%, 95%CI: 26.0-45.3; p<0.001). Among men, the increase was higher in both cases (2.3 hours, 95%CI: 1.7-2.9; p=0.029 and 47.8%, 95%CI: 32.9-62.8; p=0.029). Conclusion: The SAS offered by the FNC, which includes education strategies and the identification and solving of barriers hindering the use of PAP devices, significantly increased the hours of PAP device use and the percentage of days in which it was used >4 hours in the study population, particularly in men.

Resumen Introducción. La terapia de presión positiva en la vía aérea (PAP) es el tratamiento más efectivo de la apnea obstructiva del sueño (AOS); sin embargo, la adherencia no es óptima. La clínica de trastornos respiratorios del sueño de la Fundación Neumológica Colombiana (FNC) tiene una sesión de adaptación estandarizada (SAE) dirigida a pacientes con dificultades en el uso de equipo PAP. Objetivo. Evaluar el impacto de una SAE en la adherencia a corto plazo a la terapia de PAP en pacientes con AOS y determinar diferencias por sexo. Materiales y métodos. Estudio de cohorte única de antes y después realizado en 40 pacientes >18 años con un índice de apnea-hipopnea >15/hora atendidos en la FNC, en Bogotá D.C., Colombia, entre 2015 y 2017 y que asistieron a una SAE debido a una pobre adherencia a la terapia de PAP (<4 horas de uso el 70% de las noches). Se registraron los datos de uso en horas del equipo de PAP y el porcentaje de días en que se usó más de 4 horas antes y después de la intervención. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadística descriptiva y se empleó la prueba T de muestras emparejadas para comparar las variables antes y después de la intervención. Resultados. Se observó un aumento significativo después de la SAE en las horas de uso del equipo de PAP (1.8 horas, IC95%: 1.3-2.3; p<0.001) y del porcentaje de días en que su uso fue >4 horas (35.6%, IC95%: 26.0-45.3; p<0.001); el incremento fue mayor en los hombres en ambos casos (2.3 horas, IC95%: 1.7-2.9; p=0.029, y 47.8%, IC95%: 32.9-62.8; p=0.029). Conclusión. La SAE que brinda la FNC, la cual incluye estrategias educativas y la identificación y solución de barreras que dificultan el uso del equipo de PAP, aumentó de forma significativa las horas de uso de los dispositivos de PAP y el porcentaje de días con uso >4 horas en la población de estudio, en particular en los hombres.

Sleep physiological network analysis in children.

Objective: Physiological networks have recently been employed as an alternative to analyze the interaction of the human body. Within this option, different systems are analyzed as nodes inside a communication network as well how information fows. Several studies have been proposed to study sleep subjects with the help of the Granger causality computation over electroencephalographic and heart rate variability signals. However, following this methodology, novel approximations for children subjects are presented here, where comparison between adult and children sleep is followed through the obtained connectivities. Methods: Data from ten adults and children were retrospectively extracted from polysomnography records. Database was extracted from people suspected of having sleep disorders who participated in a previous study. Connectivity was computed based on Granger causality, according to preprocessing of similar studies in this feld. A comparison for adults and children groups with a chi-square test was followed, employing the results of the Granger causality measures. Results: Results show that differences were mainly established for nodes inside the brain network connectivity. Additionally, for interactions between brain and heart networks, it was brought to light that children physiology sends more information from heart to brain nodes compared to the adults group. Discussion: This study represents a frst sight to children sleep analysis, employing the Granger causality computation. It contributes to understand sleep in children employing measurements from physiological signals. Preliminary fndings suggest more interactions inside the brain network for children group compared to adults group.

Intermittent hypoxia and respiratory patterns during sleep of preterm infants aged 3 to 18 months residing at high altitude.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of apneas on oxygen saturation and the presence of intermittent hypoxia, during sleep of preterm infants (PTIs) born at high altitudes and compare with full-term infants (FTIs) at the same altitude. METHODS: PTIs and FTIs from 3 to 18 months were included. They were divided into three age groups: 3-4 months (Group 1); 6-7 months (Group 2), and 10-18 months (Group 3). Polysomnography parameters and oxygenation indices were evaluated. Intermittent hypoxia was defined as brief, repetitive cycles of decreased oxygen saturation. Kruskal-Wallis test for multiple comparisons, t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test were used. RESULTS: 127 PTI and 175 FTI were included. Total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was higher in PTI that FTI in all age groups (Group 1: 33.5/h vs. 12.8/h, p = 0.042; Group 2: 27.0/h vs. 7.4/h, p < 0.001; and Group 3: 11.6/h vs. 3.1/h, p < 0.001). In Group 3, central-AHI (8.0/h vs. 2.3/h, p < 0.001) and obstructive-AHI (1.8/h vs. 0.6/h, p < 0.008) were higher in PTI than FTI. T90 (7.0% vs. 0.5, p < 0.001), oxygen desaturation index (39.8/h vs. 11.3, p < 0.001) were higher in PTI than FTI, nadir SpO2 (70.0% vs. 80.0, p<0.001) was lower in PTI. CONCLUSION: At high altitude, compared to FTI, PTI have a higher rate of respiratory events, greater desaturation, and a delayed resolution of these conditions, suggesting the persistence of intermittent hypoxia during the first 18 months of life. This indicates the need for follow-up of these infants for timely diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disturbances during sleep.

Recommendations from the Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño for the practice of sleep medicine in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic / Recomendaciones de la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño para el ejercicio de la medicina del sueño en Colombia durante la pandemia por COVID-19

Abstract Measures such as frequent handwashing, mandatory use of face masks by the general population in public spaces, social and physical distancing, and mandatory confinement of most people at their homes have contributed to slowing down the spread of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which is the source of the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, adopting some of these measures has caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including sleep disorders. Therefore, it is urgent for sleep specialists and sleep centers to gradually resume activities, as long as strict biosecurity protocols aimed at reducing the risk of contagion are implemented. In this scenario, and in order to help somnologists reopen sleep centers and resume the procedures performed there, the Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño (Colombian Association of Sleep Medicine) proposes through this reflection paper several recommendations that should be considered during the reactivation process. These recommendations are based on the COVID-19 spread mitigation strategies established by the Colombian health authorities, the guidelines issued by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and relevant literature on this subject, which was reviewed after performing a search in the PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases using the search terms "sleep" "sleep medicine" and "COVID19".

Resumen El lavado de manos frecuente, el uso obligatorio de mascarilla por parte de la población general en sitios públicos, el distanciamiento físico y social, y el confinamiento obligatorio de la mayoría de la población en sus casas son las medidas que hasta el momento han ayudado a frenar la propagación del nuevo coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), causante de la actual pandemia por COVID-19. Sin embargo, la adopción de algunas de estas medidas ha generado retraso en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de diferentes enfermedades, incluyendo los trastornos del sueño, por lo que es urgente que los especialistas en medicina del sueño y los centros de sueño retomen sus actividades gradualmente, siempre que se implementen estrictos protocolos de bioseguridad que mitiguen el riesgo de contagio. En este contexto, y con el fin de ayudar a los somnólogos a reabrir los centros de sueño y reanudar los procedimientos allí realizados, la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño propone en la presente reflexión una serie de recomendaciones para tener en cuenta durante el proceso de reactivación. Estas recomendaciones se basan en las estrategias de mitigación establecidas por las autoridades sanitarias del país, las directrices de la American Academy of Sleep Medicine y la literatura disponible sobre el tema, la cual fue revisada luego de realizar una búsqueda en las bases de datos PubMed, SciELO y Google Scholar usando los términos "sleep" "sleep medicine" y "COVID19".

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ASOCIACION COLOMBIANA DE MEDICINA DEL SUEÑO (ACMES) FOR THE PRACTICE OF SLEEP MEDICINE IN COLOMBIA DURING CONTINGENCY PANDEMIC COVID-19 / RECOMENDACIONES DE LA ASOCIACION COLOMBIANA DE MEDICINA DE SUEÑO PARA EL EJERCICIO DE LA MEDICINA DEL SUEÑO EN COLOMBIA DURANTE LA CONTINGENCIA PANDEMIA COVID-19.

The Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño (ACMES) in order to help somnologists evaluate the sleep unit and the procedures carried out on it in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 issues this guide. This is based on the mitigation strategies recommended by the country's health authorities and the bibliographic review of the available medical evidence and current AASM recommendations. Colombia is in the phase of sustained transmission of COVID-19 and frequent hand-washing measures, the use of a mask by the general population in public places, physical distancing and home confinement, supported by local sanitary norms, have helped to stop the spread of the virus. However, the economic crisis associated with this outbreak makes it urgent that the country returns little by little with the implementation of the necessary biosecurity measures to a relative normality. In this current context of the pandemic in Colombia, ACMES has designed this guide so that somnologists and local sleep units have a minimum orientation in their practice during this outbreak and once the public health measures to lower the speed of contagion have been overcome gradually reopen the economy and contain the speed of spread to get back to normal if possible.

La Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño (ACMES) con el fin de ayudar a los somnólogos a evaluar la unidad de sueño y los procedimientos que se llevan a cabo en la misma en respuesta al brote del COVID-19 emite la presente guía. Esta se fundamenta en las estrategias de mitigación recomendadas por las autoridades sanitarias del país y de la revisión bibliográfica de la evidencia médica disponible y recomendaciones actuales AASM.  Colombia se encuentra en la fase de transmisión sostenida del COVID-19 y las medidas de lavado de manos frecuente, de uso de mascarilla por la población general en sitios públicos, de distanciamiento físico y confinamiento en los hogares, respaldada por normas sanitarias locales han ayudado a frenar la propagación del virus. Sin embargo, la crisis económica asociada a este brote hace urgente que el país retorne poco a poco con la implementación de las medidas de bioseguridad necesaria a una relativa normalidad. En este contexto actual de la pandemia en Colombia la ACMES ha diseñado esta guía para que los somnólogos y las unidades de sueño locales tengan una orientación mínima en su práctica durante este brote y una vez superadas las medidas de salud pública para bajar la velocidad del contagio del virus, reabrir poco a poco la economía y contener la velocidad de la propagación para volver a la normalidad en lo posible.

Severe sleep apnea, Cheyne-Stokes respiration and desaturation in patients with decompensated heart failure at high altitude.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the sleep-disordered breathing in patients with decompensated HF (DHF) at an altitude of 2640m. METHODS: Polysomnogram during the first 48 hours of admission in patients hospitalized for DHF. Sleep apnea (SA) was defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 5/hour and central sleep apnea (CSA) as central apnea index (CAI) ≥ 50% of the AHI. RESULTS: Sixteen participants, LVEF 24.2±9.9%. All patients had SA, severe in 12 (75%), CSA in 8 (50%) and 7 (43.8%) presented Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR). Out of the eight patients with obstructive SA, five had a central component (CAI ≥ 5/h). The SpO2 decreased during sleep to 80.6±5.5% and in patients with CSR to 77.6±6.9%. CONCLUSIONS: At an altitude of 2640m all patients with DHF presented sleep apnea, most were severe, with CSA and a significant percentage of CSR that was associated with higher oxygen desaturation.

Prevalence of central sleep apnea during continous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome at an altitude of 2640 m.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of central apneas when applying positive pressure (CPAP) to patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is called complex sleep apnea (CompSA). This causes poor adherence to CPAP and persistence of symptoms. In Bogota, a city located at an altitude of 2640 m above sea level, chronic hypoxemia can generate certain instability of the respiratory system during sleep which could increase the presence of central apnea. The aim was to establish the prevalence of central apnea (central apnea index >5/h) in adults with moderate or severe OSAS during CPAP titration, and the factors associated with this. METHOD: Patients over 18 years old with OSAS were referred to the Fundacion Neumologica Colombiana Sleep Center, from January 2008 to June 2010. Polysomnogram (PSG) for CPAP titration was performed according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. The prevalence was calculated and the clinical and baseline PSG factors associated with the CompSA were analyzed. RESULTS: We included 988 patients, 58% men. CompSA prevalence was 11.6%. Factors associated with CompSA were: central apneas in the baseline PSG (OR: 5.34 [3.49-8.16]), history of heart failure (OR: 2.53 [1.58-4.07]), and male sex (OR: 1.68 [1.06-2.69]). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of complex sleep apnea in Bogota (11.6%) was intermediate compared to the reported in lower altitudes. The factors associated with the development of CompSA were male sex, heart failure, and the presence of central apnea in the baseline PSG.

Guía para la certificación de servicios diagnósticos de trastornos del sueño en Colombia (Incluye estándares para Servicios Pediátricos) / Guidelines for the voluntary certification of services studying sleep disorders in Colombia (including standards for paediatric services)

Antecedentes. La Asociación Colombiana de Sociedades Científicas (ACSC) convocó al Grupo de Investigación Transdisciplinario en Trastornos del Sueño (GITTS) -conformado por la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina del Sueño (ACMES), la Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Interna (ACMI®-Médicos para adultos), la Asociación Colombiana de Neumología y Cirugía de Tórax (Asoneumocito), la Asociación Colombiana de Neurología (ACN), la Asociación Colombiana de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía Plástica Facial (ACORL) y la Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría (ACP)- para que elaboraran un documento con el cual se estableciera una normatividad para la certificación voluntaria de los servicios que estudian los trastornos del sueño en Colombia. Se busca que este proceso fomente la excelencia en el diagnóstico de los trastornos del sueño. Objetivos. El proceso busca definir los estándares mínimos para los servicios diagnósticos de medicina del sueño en Colombia. Aunque riguroso, el proceso ha de ser "amigable para el usuario". Se propone a la ACMES como ente evaluador. Materiales y métodos. El proceso evalúa la organización y administración de los servicios, los empleados y la dirección, las políticas y los procedimientos, la educación y el desarrollo del personal, las instalaciones y los equipos, así como el aseguramiento de la calidad. El enfoque general estuvo influenciado por programas establecidos y adoptados en otros países. Se espera que la consistencia con las guías internacionales disminuya la cantidad de trabajo necesaria para preparar la aplicación para los servicios que ya estén involucrados en los procedimientos de certificación -por ejemplo, certificación de hospitales- y que esto ayude a preparar el camino para la certificación en sueño. Resultados. La primera fase del proceso incluye contestar un cuestionario detallado designado para evaluar qué tan preparado está el servicio para ser certificado. La autoevaluación es una característica clave de esta fase. La habilidad para responder satisfactoriamente el cuestionario, guiado por los Estándares de Certificación detallados más adelante, deberá indicar al servicio solicitante su capacidad para cumplir con los requisitos de certificación. Si las respuestas son satisfactorias, el servicio enviará una solicitud completa. Si el Comité Evaluador (ACMES) establece que la solicitud llena los estándares, se realizará una visita a las instalaciones. Los servicios que evalúan niños menores de 12 años, deben cumplir con los requisitos específicos para esta población. Los mayores de 12 años sin condiciones médicas complejas se pueden estudiar en servicios certificados para adultos, siempre y cuando, disponga de los equipos de reanimación y de personal entrenado.

Background. The Colombian Association of Scientific Societies (known as ACSC in Spanish) requested the Transdisciplinary Research Group on Sleep Disorders (GITTS) to prepare a document establishing regulations for the voluntary certification of services studying sleep disorders in Colombia. The GITTS was formed by the Colombian Association of Sleep Medicine (ACMES), the Colombian Association of Internal Medicine (ACMI), the Colombian Association of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (Asoneumocito), the Colombian Association of Neurology (ACN), the Colombian Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery (ACORL) and the Colombian Association of Psychiatry (ACP). It was intended that this exercise would promote excellence in diagnosing sleep disorders. Objectives. Defining minimum standards for assessing/evaluating sleep disorder diagnosis services in Colombia; although rigorous, they had to be user-friendly. ACMES was proposed to play the role of guidelines controller. Materials and methods. The exercise evaluated service organisation and management, employees and management, policy and procedures, education and staff development, facilities and equipment and quality assurance. The overall approach was influenced by programmes already established and adopted by other countries. It was expected that uniformity regarding international guidelines would decrease the amount of work needed for preparing documentation for services which are already involved in certification procedures, for example, hospital certification, and that this would help pave the way for sleep medicine certification. Results. The first step involved a self-questionnaire designed to assess whether a particular service was ready to be certified, self-assessment being a key feature of this phase. Successfully responding to the questionnaire (guided by the certification standards) indicated whether a particular sleep disorder service met certification requirements. If the answers were satisfactory, then such service would send in a complete application. A site visit would then be made if the evaluation committee (ACMES) stated that the full standards had been satisfactorily met. Services assessing children under 12 years-old had to meet specific requirements for such population. Children over 12 years-old who did not have a complex medical condition could be studied by certified adult services, as long as resuscitation equipment and trained personnel were available.

Sleep apnea and oxygen saturation in adults at 2640 m above sea level.

PURPOSE: To describe the SpO2 in wakefulness, sleep and during the apnea-hypopnea in adults living in Bogotá, located at 2640 m above sea level. METHODS: Descriptive observational study in adults referred for polysomnogram (PSG). A normal Apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was defined as ≤5 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was classified as mild (AHI 5-15), moderate (AHI 15-30), and severe (AHI >30). T-test or ANOVA test for SpO2 differences between groups was used. RESULTS: 1799 patients, 33% women. 222 (12.8%) did not have OSA (normal IAH), 268 (14.9%) mild OSA, 315 (17.5%) moderate ,and 993 (55.2%) severe. In all cases a low SpO2 (SpO2<90%) was found. The SpO2 was lower when the AHI was higher, in wakefulness, in non-REM and in REM (p<0.001). For all grades of severity, SpO2 decreased significantly from wakefulness to non-REM sleep and to REM sleep (p<0.001). Patients with severe OSA had higher desaturation during wakefulness (85.2±6.6%), non-REM sleep (83.1±7.7%), REM sleep (78.8±10.2), and during events (75.1±9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSA at 2640 m have nocturnal desaturation lower than 88%, which decreases with higher severity of OSA. The clinical impact of sleep disorders at this point may be greater than at sea level and should be studied.