Identificación del síndrome de piernas inquietas en estudios polisomnográficos y su asociación con otras variables / Identification of restless legs syndrome in polysomnography studies and its association with other variables

Introducción: El síndrome de piernas inquietas (SPI) es un trastorno del movimiento caracterizado por un impulso incontrolable de mover las piernas en respuesta a una sensación desagradable. La coexistencia de SPI junto con otros trastornos del sueño y del estado de ánimo puede modificar el enfoque terapéutico. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de SPI en adultos estudiados con polisomnografía y evaluar su asociación con otros trastornos del sueño y del estado de ánimo. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Se incluyó a adultos estudiados con polisomnografía entre 2015 y 2021. Se recopiló información sobre sus antecedentes, datos polisomnográficos y trastornos del ánimo y del sueño mediante un cuestionario escrito autoadministrado que forma parte de la evaluación de todos los pacientes referidos a esta unidad de sueño. Se compararon estas variables en relación con la presencia de SPI. Resultados: Se incluyó a 406 pacientes. La prevalencia de SPI fue del 36,7% (n = 149). La presencia de fatiga (45,3%), insomnio moderado a grave (38,9%) y depresión (45,6%) fue mayor en sujetos con SPI. No se encontraron diferencias en relación con somnolencia diurna y síntomas de ansiedad. Los movimientos periódicos de las piernas no se asociaron con SPI (p = 0,26) y su prevalencia fue baja. Conclusión: La prevalencia de SPI en sujetos estudiados con polisomnografía fue elevada y se asoció a fatiga clínicamente significativa, insomnio y depresión. Estos síntomas deberían identificarse para establecer una estrategia terapéutica adecuada. La prevalencia de movimientos periódicos de las piernas fue baja y no se vinculó con SPI, hallazgo que contrasta con lo publicado previamente. Se requieren estudios adicionales para esclarecer la causa de esta asociación.(AU)

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs in response to an unpleasant sensation. The coexistence of RLS and other sleep and mood disorders may require adjustment in the therapeutic strategy. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of RLS in adults studied with polysomnography and to evaluate its association with other sleep and mood disorders. Patients and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. We included adults studied with polysomnography between 2015 and 2021. We collected information on their medical history, polysomnographic data and mood and sleep disorders using a self-administered written questionnaire which is part of the routine evaluation of all patients referred to this sleep unit. These variables were compared between patients with and without RLS. Results: We included 406 patients. The prevalence of RLS was 36.7% (n = 149). The presence of fatigue (45.3%), moderate to severe insomnia (38.9%) and depression (45.6%) was higher in subjects with RLS. We did not find differences regarding daytime sleepiness and anxiety symptoms. Periodic Limb Movements (PLM) was not associated with RLS (p = 0.26) and its prevalence was low. Conclusion: The prevalence of RLS in subjects studied with Polysomnography is high and it was associated with clinically significant fatigue, insomnia and depression. These symptoms should be identified in order to establish an adequate therapeutic strategy. The prevalence of periodic limb movements was low and was not linked with RLS. These findings contrast with previous publications. Therefore, it requires additional studies to clarify the cause of this variation.(AU)

The Co-Occurrence of Sexsomnia, Sleep Bruxism and Other Sleep Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Sleep sex also known as sexsomnia or somnambulistic sexual behavior is proposed to be classified as NREM (non-rapid eye movement) parasomnia (as a clinical subtype of disorders of arousal from NREM sleep-primarily confusional arousals or less commonly sleepwalking), but it has also been described in relation to REM (rapid eye movement) parasomnias. METHODS: The authors searched the PubMed database to identify relevant publications and present the co-occurrence of sexsomnia and other sleep disorders as a non-systematic review with case series. RESULTS: In the available literature the comorbidity of sexsomnia and other sleep disorders were reported mainly in case reports and less in case series. Sexsomnia was reported both with one and with multiple sleep-related disorders, with NREM parasomnias and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) being the most commonly reported. Furthermore, the authors enrich the article with new findings concerning two novel cases of sleep bruxism triggering recurrent sexsomnia episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Sexsomnia has still not been reported in the literature as often as other parasomnias. The coexistence of sexsomnia and other sleep-related disorders should be more thoroughly examined. This could help both in sexsomnia as well as other sleep-related disorders management.

The clinical diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). / La diagnosi clinic-strumentale della Sindrome delle Apnee Ostrutiive nel Sonno (OSAS).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is the most frequent sleep breathing disorder in the general population. To reach a correct diagnosis, the clinical work-up requires the association of comprehensive clinical evaluation (anamnesis, physical examination) and nocturnal polysomnography. Polysomnographic recordings may differ by number of bio-parameters recorded and setting (in laboratory or at home), and allow the identification of other sleep disorders in addition to the diagnosis of OSAS. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the most frequent daytime complaint of OSAS patients. Its evaluation is fundamental in subjects with suspected OSAS and concomitant high risk of sleep-related accidents due to work-related factors (e.g. professional drivers). To test EDS, physicians may use subjective (questionnaires) and/or objective (polysomnografic or performance tests) measures. Objective tests are more advisable, but to date they are time consuming and expensive. Objective tests less time-consuming and easily applicable to clinic practice are being evaluated.

Impact of Acupuncture on Chronic Insomnia: A Report of Two Cases with Polysomnographic Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: This report aimed to present the acupuncture treatment response of two patients who were evaluated with polysomnography. CLINICAL FEATURES: Acupuncture treatment was planned for two patients who refused medical treatment with chronic insomnia. Polysomnographic evaluation was performed at baseline and 1 month after acupuncture treatment. CONCLUSION: Remarkable improvement was determined in polysomnographic parameters of both cases. After acupuncture treatment, improvements in subjective symptoms such as unrefreshing sleep, morning headache, reduced motivation and daytime performance, tiredness, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and mood worsening in the morning were also observed. Clinical studies with more cases with polysomnographic evaluation are necessary to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia.

Conditioning of amitriptyline-induced REM sleep suppression in healthy participants: A randomized controlled trial.

Clinical trials in sleep disorders report substantial improvement in symptoms in their placebo groups. Behavioral conditioning is one of the underlying mechanisms of the placebo response. However, we do not know whether, and if so, the extent to which sleep architecture is influenced by behavioral conditioning, similarly to other physiological responses (i.e., those in the immune system). We therefore applied a conditioning paradigm to 39 healthy adults pairing a novel-tasting drink (conditioned stimulus, CS) with the REM sleep suppressing tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline as unconditioned stimulus during the acquisition phase. Subsequent sole presentation of the CS (together with a placebo pill) in an evocation night led to significantly more REM sleep in the amitriptyline group. Instead of the expected REM sleep suppression in the evocation night, we observed more REM sleep, indicating a rebound that interferes with the conditioned response.

Diferencias clínicas y polisomnográficas entre obesos y no obesos con síndrome de apneas-hipopneas del sueño / Clinical and polysomnographyc differences between obese and non obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

Objetivos. Describir las diferencias clínicas y polisomnográficas en pacientes obesos y no obesos con diagnóstico del síndrome de apneas-hipopneas del sueño (SAHS). Materiales y métodos. A los pacientes incluidos se les realizó un examen físico, se aplicó la escala de somnolencia de Epworth (ESE) y además se les realizó una polisomnografía. Se consideró obeso si el índice de masa corporal (IMC) era mayor o igual a 30 kg/m2. Resultados. Se analizaron 408 pacientes con SAHS, de estos, 119 (47 por ciento) fueron obesos. El SAHS fue leve en 101 (25 por ciento), moderado en 91 (22 por ciento) y severo en 216 (53 por ciento). No hubo diferencias por sexo, edad y puntaje ESE al compararse obesos con no obesos. La diferencias del perímetro cervical y presencia de somnolencia según ESE fue significativamente mayor en obesos. Estos tuvieron mayor comorbilidad en términos de dislipidemia, hipertensión arterial y enfermedad coronaria. De las variables polisomnográficas, los índices de eventos respiratorios fueron mayores en obesos, asimismo fueron peores los valores de saturación de oxígeno. No hubo diferencias en el resto de variables. El análisis de regresión mostró asociación entre la obesidad y la severidad del SAHS. Conclusiones. El SAHS no es una enfermedad limitada a la población obesa, aunque esta última tienen mayor comorbilidad y formas más severas de enfermedad.

Objectives. To describe the clinical and polysomnographyc differences between obese and non- obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH) syndrome. Materials and methods. A physical examination, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and a polysomnography were performed to all included patients. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Results. 408 patients with OSAH were analyzed, out of these, 119 (47 percent) were obese. OSAH was mild in 101 (25 percent), moderate in 91 (22 percent) and severe in 216 (53 percent). There were no age, sex and EES score differences between obese and non-obese patients. Cervical perimeter and sleepiness prevalence according to the ESS were significant higher in obese population. Obese patients had higher comorbidity related to dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and coronary disease. With respect to the polysomnographyc variables, the indexes of respiratory events and the levels of oxygen saturation were worse in obese patients. There were no differences in the other variables. The regression analysis showed association between obesity and OSAH severity. Conclusions. OSAH is a clinical condition not limited to obese population, although this group has a higher comorbidity and OSAH severity.