Performance evaluation of portable respiratory polygraphy for assessing sleep bruxism in adults.

BACKGROUND: Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for sleep bruxism (SB) assessment, it is expensive, not widely accessible, and time-consuming. OBJECTIVE: Given the increasing prevalence of SB, there is a growing need for an alternative, readily available, reliable and cost-effective diagnostic method. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic validity of portable respiratory polygraphy (PRPG) compared with PSG for SB diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred and three subjects underwent simultaneous examinations using PRPG (NOX T3, NOX Medical) and PSG (NOX A1, NOX Medical) in a sleep laboratory. RESULTS: The mean Bruxism Episodes Index (BEI) measured by PRPG was 4.70 ± 3.98, whereas PSG yielded a mean BEI of 3.79 ± 3.08. The sensitivity for detecting sleep bruxism (BEI >2) by PRPG was 48.3%, with a specificity of 81.2%. The positive predictive value was estimated at 51.9%, and the negative predictive value at 78.9%. However, when distinguishing between mild bruxism (BEI >2 < 4) and severe bruxism (BEI >4), PRPG demonstrated a sensitivity of 77.8% and 68.3% and a specificity of 48.6% and 71.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Polysomnography continues to be the SB diagnostic gold standard tool, as the sensitivity and specificity of PRPG are significantly lower when compared with PSG. Nevertheless, PRPG could serve as an alternative tool for SB screening or diagnosis, despite its limitations. Furthermore, our data indicate that comorbidities such as sleep apnea and sleep quality do not influence the diagnostic accuracy of PSG, suggesting its potential as a screening instrument in individuals with other sleep disorders.

Signal quality of home polygraphy in children and adolescents.

AIM: The aims of the study were to examine the signal quality (SQ) of home polygraphy (PG) in children and adolescents and to compare automatic and manual scoring of the PGs. METHODS: Clinical Trials Registration: NCT04964830. Participants and caregivers were instructed to set up the equipment and perform home PGs themselves. The PGs were analysed according to SQ and their interpretability and differences in automatic vs. manual scoring regarding apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), apnoea index (AI), hypopnoea index (HI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were examined. RESULTS: 54 healthy children aged 9-14 years participated in the study. 86% of the PGs were interpretable with mean SQ of 79.1% (CI 95%: 73.5%; 84.8%). Significant differences between the automatic and manual scoring were found for AHI, AI, HI and ODI (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Home PGs of children and adolescents are feasible to be performed with good SQ. Significantly higher markers of sleep-disordered breathing were achieved in the automatic scoring in comparison with the manual scoring.

Quality of poly(somno)graphy recordings in children.

The aim of the study was to assess the scorability of the signals of four poly(somno)graphy devices and transcutaneous carbon dioxide tracings (PtcCO2 ) of one device in children. The presence (0%, < 25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, 75%-99%, 100% of recording time) and quality (bad, average, good) of the signal of each sensor were analysed. During a 5-month period, 364 poly(somno)graphies were performed in 12 different hospital units. Forty-one children had poor/bad cooperation, and 13 severe behaviour disorders. Seventy-one and 293 poly(somno)graphies were performed in children aged ≤ 2 and > 2 years, respectively; nine poly(somno)graphies failed. For the four poly(somno)graphy devices, the signal was present during 99% of recording time for the electroencephalogram, 99% for thoracic belt, 97% for abdominal belt, 97% for body position, 95% for the microphone, 92% for pulse oximetry, 87% for tracheal sound, 71% for oronasal thermistor, 52% (41% for ≤ 2 years, 55% for > 2 years old) for nasal pressure and 86% for PtcCO2 . The signal was of good quality in 98% of poly(somno)graphies for body position, 96% for microphone, 96% for thoracic belt, 95% for pulse oximetry, 91% for abdominal belt, 91% for tracheal sound, 82% for oronasal thermistor, 78% for electroencephalogram, 73% for nasal pressure and 46% of PtcCO2 recordings. The scorability was comparable between devices. Nasal pressure and oronasal thermistor had the lowest scorability, especially in children aged ≤ 2 years. This underlines the necessity of the development or improvement of alternative, ideally face-free, sensors, or miniaturized devices adapted for infants and children.

Usefulness of sleep events detection using a wrist worn peripheral arterial tone signal device (WatchPAT™) in a population at low risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Due to the high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is recommended to use in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) or a home sleep apnea test (HSAT) in uncomplicated adult subjects at high risk of OSA. The aims of the present study were to compare a HSAT device, a wrist worn peripheral arterial tone signal device (WatchPAT™-200 [WP]) with PSG and respiratory polygraphy (RP) in a low-risk population of OSA. A total of 47 adult subjects at low risk of OSA were simultaneously examined with the three different approaches in a single night. The sleep studies were scored independently and in a blinded fashion, then the results and the parameters (Respiratory Disturbance Index, apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] and oxygen desaturation index of 3%) were compared with several statistical analyses. The agreement between the sleep tools and correlation for the assessed parameters were analysed and compared with Bland and Altman plots and Pearson's coefficient (WP versus PSG, r = 0.86). For the severity of OSA ranked according to PSG, the Cohen's k was 0.60 and 0.82 for WP and RP, respectively. Specificity was higher for RP compared to WP for identifying the presence of OSA (AHIPSG cut-off ≥5 events/hr: 0.85 versus 0.73), while was quite similar in identifying patients who were more likely to be treated (AHIPSG cut-off ≥15 events/hr: 0.94 versus 0.96). Assessing the costs and the simplicity of the examination, the results of our present study demonstrate the usefulness of WP compared to PSG, especially in screening and follow-up for the ability to exclude subjects from treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (AHI <15 events/hr) in a population with a low pre-test risk of moderate-to-severe OSA.

Self-setup of home respiratory polygraphy for the diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome: cost-efficiency study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differences in reliability and costs of home respiratory polygraphy (HRP) when installed by the patient and by a nurse, in order to determine the factors affecting and to consider the possible generalization of self-setup procedure. Several HRP devices have been validated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosis but convenience of a nurse intervention in HRP installation has been scarcely studied. METHODS: This is a prospective and interventional study. About 301 participants were assigned to 2 groups: self-setup and nurse intervention. Sleep study, questionnaires, and diagnostic procedures were performed following the clinical practice in 2016. Signals were considered lost above 3 min, and success of the test was established according to guidelines. Costs were calculated according to a previous multicenter study. RESULTS: Both groups (self-setup and nurse intervention) resulted homogeneous in age, gender, BMI, and final diagnosis of OSA. Signal losses during the test were similar in both groups. Slightly higher percentage of unsuccessful tests were obtained in the self-setup procedure (5.3 vs 2.0%, p = 0.121). The costs were similar (107 vs 105 €) in the self-setup group as compared to the nurse setup group. CONCLUSIONS: The setup of HRP by either the patient or nurse had similar costs and data acquisition. Both installation procedures of HRP were similar regarding test reliability and costs. Main findings are that self-installation by the patient could be similarly reliable and economic as installation by a nurse, as far as consensus guidelines are followed. This study demonstrates that self-setup of HRP is a potentially viable option for the diagnosis of OSA.

Sleep-disordered breathing in children with mucolipidosis.

Mucolipidosis (ML) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder with a wide spectrum of disease severity according to the type. Sleep-disordered breathing is recognized as a characteristic feature of ML but objective data are scarce. The aim of the study was to describe sleep data and medical management in children with ML α/ß. All patients with ML α/ß followed at a national reference center of ML were included. Five patients had ML II, one patient had ML III and one patient had ML II-III. One patient was started on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) to allow extubation after prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation. The six other patients underwent sleep study at a median age of 1.8 years (range 4 months-17.4 years). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was observed in all patients with a median apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 36 events/hr (range 5-52) requiring continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or NIV. CPAP/NIV resulted in an improvement of nocturnal gas exchange and was continued in all patients with an excellent compliance. Two patients died. Systematic sleep studies are recommended at time of diagnosis in ML. CPAP or NIV are effective treatments of OSA, well tolerated, and may contribute to improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers.

Respiratory polygraphy in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

At-home respiratory polygraphy has been shown to be a reliable substitute for in-laboratory polysomnography in adults for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, but this is less well studied in children. One aim of this study was to examine the quality of at-home respiratory polygraphy in children with sleep-disordered breathing and to evaluate the interrater reliability of the results. Another aim was to study whether calibrated respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) flow can be used for the scoring of respiratory events when the airflow measurements are unreliable. Children aged 4-10 years, with sleep-disordered breathing, underwent at-home respiratory polygraphy. Of 113 polygraphies, only 46% were of acceptable quality, with missing nasal airflow being the most common problem (40%). The median recorded time with artifact-free signal present in three traces simultaneously was 228 min (0-610 min). Seventeen polygraphy studies were selected for further study. Each study was scored by two independent scorers, with and without the nasal airflow signal present, the latter relying on RIP flow for the scoring of respiratory events. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from the four different measurements was compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Comparison of the two scorers showed moderate agreement, with (ICC = 0.66) and without (ICC = 0.53) nasal airflow. One scorer had good agreement between AHI with and without nasal airflow (ICC = 0.81), whereas the other had poor agreement (ICC = 0.12). In conclusion, the scoring of respiratory events based on RIP flow is scorer dependent even for experienced scorers. The nasal airflow signal is frequently missing in paediatric respiratory polygraphies, which limits the usefulness of the method.

Performance of questionnaires aimed at detecting sleep disorders in patients attending a hypertension center.

Introduction: Hypertension (HT) and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSA) are prevalent and frequently related pathologies. The predictive value of screening questionnaires in cardiovascular settings is not totally clear and could be useful to select candidates for the sleep test. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study in adults with suspected HT referred to a day-care hospital. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Berlin, and STOP-BANG (SBQ) questionnaire were checked against data from home-based respiratory polygraphy (RP). We calculated sensitivity (S) and specificity (Sp), positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and the area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) for each questionnaire and their combinations. Results: We analyzed 382 patients; 234 men (61.3%) and 148 women, mean age: 54.5 ± 13.7 years, body mass index (BMI): 33.1 ± 7.8 kg/m2, ESS: 7.4 ± 4.7. Seventy-eight percent had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >5 events per hour (eV/h) and 58% presented >15 eV/h (mean: 17.5 ± 9.3 eV/h). With regard to clinically significant OSA (AHI > 15 eV/h), 5 SBQ components showed S: 100% (CI: 97-100) and Sp: 98% (CI: 95-99) with a NPV of 100, a PPV of 97.8, and an AUC-ROC of 0.90 (p < 0.0001). ESS > 10 + high-risk Berlin did not perform as effectively. Conclusion: In a population of HT patients, SBQ > 5 performed better at identifying patients with >15 eV/hour with a high discrimination power.

Conventional Polysomnography Is Not Necessary for the Management of Most Patients with Suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Noninferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial.

RATIONALE: Home respiratory polygraphy may be a simpler alternative to in-laboratory polysomnography for the management of more symptomatic patients with obstructive sleep apnea, but its effectiveness has not been evaluated across a broad clinical spectrum. OBJECTIVES: To compare the long-term effectiveness (6 mo) of home respiratory polygraphy and polysomnography management protocols in patients with intermediate-to-high sleep apnea suspicion (most patients requiring a sleep study). METHODS: A multicentric, noninferiority, randomized controlled trial with two open parallel arms and a cost-effectiveness analysis was performed in 12 tertiary hospitals in Spain. Sequentially screened patients with sleep apnea suspicion were randomized to respiratory polygraphy or polysomnography protocols. Moreover, both arms received standardized therapeutic decision-making, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment or a healthy habit assessment, auto-CPAP titration (for CPAP indication), health-related quality-of-life questionnaires, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and polysomnography at the end of follow-up. The main outcome was the Epworth Sleepiness Scale measurement. The noninferiority criterion was -2 points on the Epworth scale. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In total, 430 patients were randomized. The respiratory polygraphy protocol was noninferior to the polysomnography protocol based on the Epworth scale. Quality of life, blood pressure, and polysomnography were similar between protocols. Respiratory polygraphy was the most cost-effective protocol, with a lower per-patient cost of 416.7€. CONCLUSIONS: Home respiratory polygraphy management is similarly effective to polysomnography, with a substantially lower cost. Therefore, polysomnography is not necessary for most patients with suspected sleep apnea. This finding could change established clinical practice, with a clear economic benefit. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01752556).

Prevalence of sleep apnea and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with hypertension in a day hospital model.

INTRODUCTION: To identify patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome at a specialized hypertension center, we administered questionnaires and used respiratory polygraphy (RP). RESULTS: We studied 168 patients (64.8% men and 35.2% women). Patients' body mass index (BMI) was 34.7 ± 6.79 and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores were 8.01 for male and 8.92 for women (p = 0.69). RP recordings revealed AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) of 18.03 ± 15.7, an ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index) of 18.6 ± 15.2, and a time oxygen saturation <90% (%) of 20.8 ± 24.3. Around 44% of patients had an AHI of >15 events/h, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was recommended to 69 patients (41.07%). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) showed high values in AHI > 15/h (p = 0.050), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) did not correlate with AHI > 15; right IMT: 0.83 ± 1.3 versus 0.78 ± 0.13 mm (p = 0.41) and 0.82 ± 0.16 versus 0.78 ± 0.19 mm (p = 0.40). However, we find correlation with carotid plaque (p = 0.046). The ACC/AHA calculator revealed a gradual increase in the risk of cardiovascular events: 8.7% with AHI < 5/h, and 30.3% in severe OSA. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertension (HT) patients, RP revealed a high prevalence of OSA associated with carotid artery disease, high PWV, and increased cardiovascular risk.

Novel insights in cough and breathing patterns of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis performing repeated 24-hour-respiratory polygraphies.

BACKGROUND: The main symptoms of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are cough and dyspnea. IPF leads to a restrictive lung disorder impacting daytime and nocturnal breathing patterns. In this pilot study we assessed the course of day- and nighttime respiration, oxygenation, and cough over a period of 8 months as well as differences between wakefulness and sleep in IPF patients. METHODS: Repetitive 24-h respiratory polygraphies (RP) and pulmonary function tests were performed at baseline and after 3, 4, 7 and 8 months. Cough-index, oxygenation parameters (SpO2, time with SpO2 < 90%, desaturation index), respiratory rate and heart rate were assessed for differences between wakefulness and sleep. The first and the last RP were compared to identify changes of these parameters over time. Statistical analyses were performed with Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS: Nine IPF patients (8 male, median age 67 years (IQR 60, 77) with 37 valid 24-h RPs were included. Eight patients (88.9%) received antifibrotic treatment. Cough was more prevalent during wakefulness with a median cough-index of 14.8/h (IQR 10.9, 16.8) and 1.6/h (IQR 1.3-2.8) during sleep, p = 0.0039. Oxygenation parameters showed no difference, while respiratory- and heart rate were significantly higher during wakefulness. Despite stable pulmonary function tests over 8 months, the initially elevated respiratory rate increased further during wakefulness (baseline RR median 25.7/min (IQR 19.8, 26.6) vs. RR median 32.2/min (IQR 26.5, 40.9) at follow-up, p = 0.0273). The other respiratory parameters remained stable over time. CONCLUSION: Cough in IPF patients is more prevalent during wakefulness than during sleep. Further studies with a larger sample size and longer a follow-up period are needed to evaluate the role of the respiratory rate during wakefulness as a potential clinical follow up parameter in IPF.

Difference between apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI): proportional increase associated with degree of obesity.

PURPOSE: Obesity is one of the main predisposing factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) hypopnea syndrome. It has been described that body mass index (BMI) influences the accuracy of oxygen desaturation index (ODI) for the diagnosis of OSA by polysomnography (PSG). We analyzed the relationship between traditional indicators: apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and ODI in a population at high risk for OSA, by respiratory polygraphy (RP) and PSG. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 1898 patients with suspicion of OSA, from which 1053 underwent RP and 582 underwent PSG with OSA. We compared results considering gender, age, and degree of obesity. RESULTS: This study included 1333 records of patients with OSA-more than 80 % of whom were overweight or obese. We observed that AHI and ODI increased progressively with obesity grade and said increase was associated with BMI only in men. The evaluation of the agreement between AHI and ODI found a difference between normal weight and obese patients, regardless of gender. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings contribute to understand the role of oximetry in the diagnosis of OSA in obese patients. Our results were observed using full PSG and a simplified home method. The correlation between these indicators could improve our clinical interpretation of OSA severity among obese patients when abbreviated tests are used.

Occurrence of sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with chronic urticaria at its asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic stages.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic urticaria (CU), in view of its manifestations (pruritus, wheals), chronic and recurrent nature is very bothersome for patients and significantly influences their quality of life. AIM: To assess the importance of sleep problems and sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) declared by CU patients, for their quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with CU at an asymptomatic stage or with minimal symptoms and signs were qualified for the study. In these patients, assessment of urticaria severity, QoL and SRBDs incidence was carried out. RESULTS: In a questionnaire study (CU-Q2oL), about 54% of the patients with CU complained of sleeping problems, about 80% reported significant fatigue and lack of concentration in the daytime. Respiratory polygraphy, an objective measure of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) demonstrated their higher incidence in patients with CU than in the general population, but these disorders were mild and had no influence on the reduced quality of life of the study patients, compared with a group of patients without SRBDs. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of SRBDs was found in 25% of patients with CU at asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic stages. The SRBDs in those patients were mild, required no treatment and their occurrence did not cause any significant reduction in their quality of life.

Utility of the STOP-BANG components to identify sleep apnea using home respiratory polygraphy.

BACKGROUND: Utility of questionnaires to estimate the probability of obstructive sleep apneas (OSA) is varying, and it is challenging to know the performance of STOP (Snore, Tired, Observed apnea, and Pressure)-BANG (BMI, Age, Neck and Gender) with simplified methods. To assess the performance of STOP-BANG and its ability to predict sleep apnea in patients with high pre-test like-hood to present OSA referred for a home respiratory polygraphy (RP) were studied. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of patients recruited over 26 months was performed. They were asked to complete the STOP-BANG questionnaire during evaluation prior to RP and were evaluated according to different apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) cut-offs. Areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multiple logistic regression models were calculated. RESULTS: Eight hundred sixty-nine patients were studied; 557 were male (64.1 %) with a median age of 52.82 ± 14.43 years, a body mass index (BMI) of 32.88 ± 8.51, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of 7.95 ± 5.17. The performance for AHI ≥5/h (ROC area) was: STOP 0.62, BANG 0.66, and STOP-BANG 0.69. The best sensitivity (S)-specificity (Sp) relationship for AHI ≥5/h was found with 5 components in any combination (S 56.02 %; Sp 70 %). For AHI ≥30/h, STOP was 0.68, BANG 0.66 and STOP-BANG 0.73 and the best S-Sp relationship was obtained with 5 components (S 68 %; Sp 63.6 %). Six variables (snoring, observed apneas, high blood pressure (HBP), BMI >35, neck perimeter >40 cm, and male gender) showed the best performance for AHI >30/h; ROC area 0.76. CONCLUSION: STOP-BANG shows different discrimination power for AHI >5 and ≥30/h using RP. Five components in any combination have acceptable diagnostic S to identify patients with severe OSA. STOP-BANG performed best to identify AHI ≥30/h.

[Obstructive sleep apnea in cardiology clinical practice. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study]. / Apnea obstructiva del sueño en la práctica clínica cardiológica. Epidemiología, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, transversal.

Objective: To determine the clinical-epidemiological characteristics, diagnostic feasibility of home respiratory polygraphy and treatment of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at cardiovascular risk. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in patients seen in a cardiology outpatient service with suspected OSA, from January 2015 to December 2019. The information was obtained from medical records, and a descriptive statistical analysis was applied to this information. Results: 138 files were reviewed; only 8% of the home respiratory polygraphs were discarded, because they did not meet the required quality standards. It was demonstrated that 89% suffered from OSA, 60% moderate to severe; in men after 50 years of age. The main cardiovascular risk factors was hypertension (89%). The most prevalent heart disease was hypertension (52%). Cardiovascular pharmacological treatment was improved in 82% of the cases. Cardiac rehabilitation in 30%, noninvasive mechanical ventilation 41%, fixed modality 33%, and self-adjustable 9%, all with telemetry. Conclusions: The prevalence and severity of OSA is higher in the presence of risk or established cardiovascular disease. In the presence of clinical suspicion, it is feasible to confirm the diagnosis with home respiratory poligrafy due to the level of precision and the lower infrastructure required. Greater involvement of the cardiologist in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder is necessary due to the significant risk of cardiovascular disease it represents.

Objetivo: Determinar las características clínico-epidemiológicas, viabilidad diagnóstica de la poligrafía respiratoria domiciliaria y el tratamiento de pacientes con sospecha de apnea obstructiva del sueño (AOS) en riesgo cardiovascular. Métodos: Se realizó estudio observacional, transversal, descriptivo en pacientes atendidos en un servicio de consulta externa de cardiología con sospecha de AOS, de enero de 2015 a diciembre de 2019. La información se obtuvo de los expedientes médicos, se aplicó análisis estadístico descriptivo. Resultados: Se examinaron 138 expedientes, de las poligrafías respiratorias domiciliarias fueron descartadas solo el 8% por no cumplir con los estándares de calidad requeridos. Se demostró que el 89% padecían AOS, un 60% moderada a severa; predominó en hombres después de los 50 años. El principal ractores de riesgo cardiovascular fue hipertensión (89%). La cardiopatía más prevalente fue la hipertensiva (52%). Se optimizó tratamiento farmacológico cardiovascular en el 82% de los casos. Rehabilitación cardiaca en el 30%, ventilación mecánica no invasiva 41%, modalidad fija 33% y autoajustable 9%, todos con telemetría. Conclusiones: La prevalencia y severidad de la AOS es mayor en presencia de riesgo oenfermedad cardiovascular establecida. Ante la sospecha clínica es factible confirmar el diagnóstico con poligrafía respiratoria domiciliaria por el nivel de precisión y la menor infraestructura requerida. Es necesaria una mayor participación del cardiólogoen el diagnóstico y tratamiento de este trastorno por el riesgo significativo de enfermedad cardiovascular que representa.

Crossectional Study on the Performance of Screening Questionnaires for Prediction of Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Women.

Introduction The clinical manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are different between genders. Though there are several screening questionnaires for OSA, their performance in females is not fully understood, as women have been historically underrepresented in research studies. Objective To assess the performance of screening questionnaires and their capacity to identify a moderate to severe apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in women. Materials and Methods The Epworth sleep scale (ESS), Berlin questionnaire, and STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) were correlated with AHI. Also, the sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) curve were calculated for each questionnaire and combinations thereof. Multiple regression models were used to identify ≥15 ev/h AHI. Results Our study included 5,344 patients: 1978 women (37.1%) aged 55.06 ± 14 years with body mass index (BMI): 32.6 ± 8.30 kg/m 2 , ESS: 7.69 ± 5.2 points, and high-risk Berlin score: 87.25%. An AHI ≥15 ev/h was found in 30.4% of women. In terms of the capacity to identify an ≥15 ev/h AHI in women, the AUC-ROC of ESS >10 and high-risk Berlin was 0.53 and 0.58, respectively. Three components of SBQ in any combination showed: a S of 65.1% (95% CI: 61.2-68.9), a Sp: 61.5% (95% CI: 58.9-64.1), with the AUC-ROC: 0.67. Conclusions Questionnaires perform differently in women. Therefore, it is necessary to take a gender-specific approach. The SBQ showed a higher discriminative power and more specificity than the ESS and the Berlin questionnaire. The best performance was obtained with any combination of 3 SBQ components. Age, BMI, neck circumference, and hypertension were the strongest predictors.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening and Effects of Surgery in Acromegaly: A Prospective Study.

BACKGRUOUND: To identify a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and evaluate the effects of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery on improving OSA in patients with acromegaly. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled adults with acromegaly scheduled for endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. All measurements were conducted when participants were admitted for a baseline work-up for acromegaly before surgery and surveillance approximately 3 to 6 months after surgery. Respiratory event index (REI) was used as a surrogate for apnea-hypopnea index (Trial Registration: NCT03526016). RESULTS: Of the 35 patients with acromegaly (median age, 47 years; 40% men; median body mass index, 24.4 kg/m2), 24 (68.6%) had OSA (REI ≥5/hour), 15 (42.9%) had moderate-to-severe OSA (REI ≥15/hour). At baseline, serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were positively correlated with the REI (ρ=0.53, P=0.001). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of a Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure-Body mass index, age, Neck circumference, and Gender (STOP-Bang) score ≥ 3 were 93.3% and 87.5%, respectively, detecting moderate-to-severe OSA. Biochemical acromegaly remission was achieved in 32 (91.4%) patients. The median difference in the REI was -9.5/hour (95% confidence interval, -13.3 to -5.3). Half of the 24 patients diagnosed with OSA preoperatively had REI <5/hour postoperatively. In a linear mixed-effects model, changes in the REI across surgery were related to changes in IGF-1 levels. CONCLUSION: The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a reliable tool for OSA among patients with acromegaly. Improvement in OSA severity after surgery is related to decreased IGF-1 levels.

Sleep-disordered breathing on respiratory polygraphy in neonates with spina bifida.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown a high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children with spina bifida. International standards for regular testing for SDB in this population are lacking. While there are studies investigating the prevalence of SDB in children with spina bifida, there are close to no studies in neonates. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if routine respiratory polygraphy (RPG) testing is indicated for neonates with spina bifida and if yes, with what therapeutic consequence. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all neonates with spina bifida at the University (Children's) Hospital Zurich after fetal spina bifida repair born between 2017 and 2022, who had undergone at least 1 RPG evaluation during hospitalization on the neonatal ward. RPG were evaluated by a blinded group of experienced pediatric pulmonologists. Based on the neonatal RPG results and pediatric pulmonologist's recommendation for caffeine therapy the spina bifida cohort was divided into two groups. Neonatal baseline RPG and follow-up RPG at the age of the 3 months were evaluated. RESULTS: 48 neonates with RPG were included. Compared to the standard values in healthy neonates, the RPG results of this spina bifida cohort showed findings of SDB with central apnea and hypopnea. 22 (45.8%) neonatal RPG evaluations detected central SDB, prompting caffeine therapy. Follow-up RPG conducted after 3 months showed significant improvement of SDB with (almost) no need for continuation of caffeine. CONCLUSION: We recommend the implementation of routine RPG testing in neonates with spina bifida to detect SDB and facilitate early targeted treatment.

[Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Relación entre la apnea obstructiva del sueño y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

INTRODUCTION: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigates the relationship between OSA and incident type 2 diabetes (DM) and prediabetes (preDM), as well as the effect of long-term CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment. METHODS: Follow-up study in a retrospective clinical cohort of patients with OSA and randomly selected controls. Data on incident DM and preDM as well as CPAP were obtained from hospital records. The relationship between baseline OSA and incident DM was examined using COX regression models. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-six patients, 169 with OSA and 187 controls were followed for a median of 98 months; 47 patients (13.2%) developed DM and 43 (12.1%) developed preDM. The 5-year cumulative incidence of DM was 10.7% (6.5-13.9%). 87% of subjects with preDM in the baseline sample progressed to incident DM. It is shown that body mass index (BMI), nocturnal hypoxia and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) are risk factors for the development of DM and that CPAP reduces this risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSA have a higher risk of developing DM. The risk factors involved are BMI, nocturnal hypoxia and AHI. Regular long-term CPAP use was associated with a decreased risk.

Management of the Pediatric Patient with Suspected Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

AIM: The aim of this paper is to describe the multidisciplinary management pathway for pediatric patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) conducted by the Pediatric and Orthodontic Department of the Dental Clinic of Padua. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All pediatric subjects undergo a comprehensive medical history, including the completion of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), and a physical examination. Patients with suspected OSAS are placed on a waiting list for home respiratory polygraphy testing. The respiratory polygraphy examination is conducted over two consecutive nights and interpreted by a neurologist. Additionally, patients diagnosed with OSAS undergo a case study involving intraoral and extraoral photography, as well as radiographic evaluation. RESULTS: Between September 2021 and May 2023, a total of 134 subjects (including 76 males), with an average age of 9.2 years, were identified as diagnostic suspects. Among these, 38 patients (28.3%) tested positive based on respiratory polygraphic results. Depending on the severity and etiopathogenetic characteristics of the disease, the positive cases were referred to various specialists. CONCLUSION: In the daily clinical practice of dentistry, particularly in orthodontics and pedodontics, the establishment of a defined management pathway for pediatric patients with OSAS is crucial. The collaboration of a multidisciplinary team with a shared objective of achieving accurate diagnosis and implementing targeted treatment in a timely manner is essential. Regular re-evaluation of patients through clinical and instrumental examinations is recommended.