Clinical efficacy and mechanism study of mid-frequency anti-snoring device in treating moderate obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)is primarily caused by airway obstruction due to narrowing and blockage in the nasal and nasopha-ryngeal,oropharyngeal,soft palate,and tongue base areas.The mid-frequency anti-snoring device is a new technology based on sublingual nerve stimulation.Its principle is to improve the degree of oropharyngeal airway stenosis in OSAHS patients under mid-frequency wave stimulation.Nevertheless,there is a lack of clinical application and imaging evidence.METHODS We selected 50 patients diagnosed with moderate OSAHS in our hospital between July 2022 and August 2023.They underwent a 4-wk treatment regimen involving the mid-frequency anti-snoring device during nighttime sleep.Following the treatment,we monitored and assessed the sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores.Additionally,we performed computed tomo-graphy scans of the oropharynx in the awake state,during snoring,and while using the mid-frequency anti-snoring device.Cross-sectional area measurements in different states were taken at the narrowest airway point in the soft palate posterior and retrolingual areas.RESULTS Compared to pretreatment measurements,patients exhibited a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index,the percentage of time with oxygen saturation below 90%,snoring frequency,and the duration of the most prolonged apnea event.The lowest oxygen saturation showed a notable increase,and both sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved.Oropharyngeal computed tomography scans revealed that in OSAHS patients cross-sectional areas of the oropharyngeal airway in the soft palate posterior area and retrolingual area decreased during snoring compared to the awake state.Conversely,during mid-frequency anti-snoring device treatment,these areas increased compared to snoring.CONCLUSION The mid-frequency anti-snoring device demonstrates the potential to enhance various sleep parameters in patients with moderate OSAHS,thereby improving their quality of life and reducing daytime sleepiness.These therapeutic effects are attributed to the device’s ability to ameliorate the narrowing of the oropharynx in OSAHS patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome immunological relationship

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)is a complex disorder cha-racterized by symptoms resulting from intermittent hypoxia and hypopnea,with research indicating a crucial role of immune system dysregulation and genetic variations in its pathogenesis.A recent Zhao et al study utilizes Mendelian ran-domization analysis to explore the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and OSAHS.The study identifies specific lymphocyte subsets as-sociated with OSAHS,providing valuable insights into the disease's pathophy-siology and potential targets for therapeutic intervention.The findings underscore the significance of genetic and immunological factors in sleep disorders,offering a fresh perspective on OSAHS's complexities.Compared to existing literature,Zhao et al's study stands out for its focus on genetic markers and specific immune responses associated with OSAHS,expanding upon previous research primarily centered on systemic inflammation.In conclusion,the study represents a signi-ficant advancement in the field,shedding light on the causal role of immune cells in OSAHS and paving the way for future research and targeted treatments.

Forced Inspiratory Flow Volume Curve in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSA) is a disease of obstructive apnea or hypopnea caused by a repeated partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The inspiratory part of the flow-volume curve (F-V curve) can be used as an auxiliary means to evaluate upper airway obstruction in adults. This study is to evaluate the ability of the F-V curve to predict the OSA and explore inspiratory indicators related to airway obstruction during sleep. Methods: There were 332 patients included in this cross-sectional study, who were accompanied by snoring, daytime sleepiness and other symptoms, with suspicion of OSA. According to the nocturnal polysomnography, the subjects were distributed into mild to moderate OSA group, severe OSA group and non-OSA group. A pulmonary function test was used to collect the subjects’ spirometry and F-V curves. Results: There was no significant difference in a variety of indices derived from the F-V curve between OSA and normal subjects, including 25% inspiratory flow rate, middle inspiratory flow rate, 75% inspiratory flow rate, peak flow rate, and forced inspiratory flow rate in the first second. The pulmonary function parameters were significantly correlated with the weight, age and sex of the subjects. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the inspiratory curve of pulmonary function cannot evaluate the upper airway abnormalities in patients with obstructive apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Intermittent hypoxia is involved in gut microbial dysbiosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)has been recognized as a comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM);more than half of T2DM patients suffer from OSAHS.Intermittent hypoxia(IH)plays an important role in metabolic diseases,such as obesity and OSAHS,through various mechanisms,including altering the gut microecological composition and function.Therefore,it is important to study the role of gut microbiota in T2DM patients with OSAHS,which has a high incidence and is prone to several complications.AIM To assess whether IH is involved in altering the fecal microbiome in T2DM patients with OSAHS.METHODS Seventy-eight participants were enrolled from Henan Province People’s Hospital and divided into healthy control(HC,n=26),T2DM(n=25),and T2DM+OSA(n=27)groups based on their conditions.The fecal bacterial DNA of the research participants was extracted and subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.The clinical indices,such as insulin resistance index,homocysteine(HCY)concentration,and the concentrations of inflammatory factors in the peripheral blood,were assessed and recorded.RESULTS Group T2DM+OSA had the highest apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)(2.3 vs 3.7 vs 13.7),oxygen desaturation index(0.65 vs 2.2 vs 9.1),HCY concentration(9.6μmol/L vs 10.3μmol/L vs 13.81μmol/L)and C-reactive protein(CRP)concentrations(0.3 mg/L vs 1.43 mg/L vs 2.11 mg/L),and lowest mean oxygen saturation(97.05%vs 96.6%vs 94.7%)among the three groups.Twelve and fifteen key differences in amplicon sequence variants were identified when comparing group T2DM+OSA with groups T2DM and HC,respectively.We found progressively decreased levels of Faecalibacterium,Eubacterium,and Lachnospiraceae,and an increase in the level of Actinomyces,which strongly correlated with the HCY,CRP,fasting plasma glucose,and hemoglobin A1c concentrations,AHI,mean oxygen saturation,and insulin resistance index in group T2DM+OSA(P<0.05).CONCLUSION For T2DM patients with OSAHS,IH may be involved in selective alterations of the gut microbiota,which may affect the pathophysiological development of T2DM and DM-related complications.

Effect of motivational interviewing on postoperative weight control in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

BACKGROUND Obesity is an important factor to cause the obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Higher body mass index(BMI)often results in more severe OSAHS.Currently,the common measures for controlling the weight mainly include diet control,increase exercise and so on.Motivational interviewing(MI)could explore the patient’s internal state and make the patient realize his/her ambivalence,resulting in the change in his/her behavior.This process emphasizes respecting the patient’s autonomy.AIM To evaluate the effect of MI on the weight control of patients with OSAHS.METHODS A randomized controlled study was conducted in 100 obese OSAHS patients undergoing surgical treatment at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University.The patients were divided into an intervention group and a control group,with 50 cases each.The control group was given routine health education after the operation;in addition to the regular health education,the intervention group was given MI according to a predetermined plan.Obesity-related indicators,postoperative complications,and the sleep status of both groups were evaluated before and 6 mo after the intervention.RESULTS Patients in the intervention group had significantly improved body weight,BMI,and waist and neck circumferences compared with patients in the control group(P<0.05).Regarding complications at 6 mo after operation,the incidence of cough and reflux in patients in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).In addition,the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Self-Rating Scale of Sleep scores of patients in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group,and the sleep status of patients in the intervention group was improved(P<0.05).CONCLUSION MI intervention has a significant advantage over postoperative routine health education.It can greatly change the lifestyle,further control the postoperative weight,reduce the occurrence of complications,improve the quality of sleep,and improve long-term postoperative efficacy in OSAHS patients.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Ssyndrome and Hearing in Children

Objective To explore the relationship between hypoxemia and hearing in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. Methods Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded in 68 ears and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in 60 ears in children with OSAHS and type "A" tym-panograms, and in 30 ears in normal children. Results ABR latencies of waves I, III and V, and I-III, III-V and I-V intervals were not statistically different between OSAHS and normal children. Wave I latency was delayed in children with OSAHS compared to normal children3 (P < 0.05). DPOAE amplitudes in children with mild OSAHS were lower than normal children at 8 kHz (P < 0.05). DPOAEs were lower at 6 kHz and 8 kHz in children with moderate/severe OSAHS than normal children (P < 0.05). Conclusion Cochlear function was affected when AHI was at or greater than 10/hour. ABR and DPOAE can be used to detect early changes in auditory function in children with OSAHS.

Relation between Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome and Glaucoma in a Sub-Saharan African Population

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a frequent pathology worldwide whose main mechanism is a complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway. One of the pathophysiological mechanisms described in primary open-angle glaucoma is that hypoxia in the optic nerve progressively destroys the retinal cells leading to the onset and/or aggravation of glaucoma. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of OSA in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methodology: An analytical study was conducted from January to May 2020 at the UHC. After obtaining ethical clearance, 112 patients including 50 glaucoma patients (44.64%) and 62 in the control group were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from the medical records of the participants, with or without glaucoma, and a questionnaire was administered and a clinical examination performed. The STOP BANG score was used to determine the risk level of OSAHS. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info version 7.2. Results: A female predominance was found (60%) in the glaucoma group with a mean age of 55 ± 17 years against 49 ± 18 years in the control group. The high risk of OSAHS was more associated with glaucoma patients. In glaucoma patients, an association was found between high risk of OSAHS and snoring (OR = [1.43 - 849.53];p = 0.029) as well as insomnia (OR = [1.36 - 482.86];p = 0.030). Conclusion: High risk of OSAHS was found in participants with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Signs of OSAHS should be sought in chronic open-angle glaucoma as it may be a factor in its progression.

Characteristics of glucolipid metabolism as well as atherosclerosis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome combined with cerebral infarction

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of glucolipid metabolism as well as atherosclerosis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) combined with cerebral infarction.Methods:Patients who were treated in the hospital due to acute cerebral infarction between March 2015 and February 2018 were selected, and according to the combination of OSAHS, the 300 patients with cerebral infarction were divided into the cerebral infarction group A who were combined with OSAHS and the cerebral infarction group B who were not combined with OSAHS;the 100 cases of healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The contents of glucolipid metabolism indexes, cytokines and plaque hydrolysis molecules in serum were determined.Results: Serum F-Ins, TC, LDL-C, VE-cadherin, YKL-40, FKN, M-CSF, MCP-1, MMP9, Caspase-3, ICTP and VCAM-1 levels of cerebral infarction group A and cerebral infarction group B were significantly higher than those of control group whereas HDL-C levels were significantly lower than that of control group;serum F-Ins, TC, LDL-C, VE-cadherin, YKL-40, FKN, M-CSF, MCP-1, MMP9, Caspase-3, ICTP and VCAM-1 levels of cerebral infarction group A were significantly higher than those of cerebral infarction group B whereas HDL-C level was significantly lower than that of cerebral infarction group B.Conclusion: There are more significant glucolipid metabolism disorder and worse plaque stability in patients with OSAHS combined with cerebral infarction.

Reliability and Validity of Simplified Chinese STOP-BANG Questionnaire in Diagnosing and Screening Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

The main purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese STOP-BANG Questionnaire(SBQ)as a diagnosing and screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Two hundred and ten patients with suspected OSAHS were recruited in this study.The simplified Chinese SBQ was completed twice before and after polysomnography(PSG)monitoring.SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the test-retest reliability,discriminant validity,comparative validity and predictive validity of the SBQ.Fourteen patients were excluded on account of fragmentary data,and valid 196 were divided into four groups:non-OSAHS group(n=28,14.29%),mild OSAHS group(n=28,14.29%),moderate OSAHS group(n=31,15.81%)and severe OSAHS group(n=109,55.61%).The test-retest coefficient tor the first four items was 0.810,0.679,0.775,0.963 respectively and the total score of the STOP questionnaire was 0.854.The analysis of discriminant validity revealed that there were significant differences among four groups in the total score of the SBQ and scores of item 1,3,7 and 8,which were also validated between patients with normal blood oxygen saturation and different degrees of hypoxemia.The SBQ evaluation showed low consistency with diagnostic gold standard PSG(k=0.3O3,P<0.05).When taking apnea hypopnea index(AHI)≥5/h,≥15/h and≥30/h as cut-offs to evaluate the SBQ predictive value,the areas under ROC curve were 0.77,0.81 and 0.78,the sensitivity was 90.48%,93.57%and 93.33%,and corresponding negative predictive values were 40.74%,66.67%and 85.19%,respectively.It was suggested that the simplified Chinese version of SBQ had good reliability,and could distinguish the severity of OSAHS.Despite its limited diagnostic accuracy,the SBQ can be considered as an ideal tool for screening OSAHS with superior predictive validity.

Serum Level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

To explore the relationship between the serum vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） level and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS）, the concentrations of serum VEGF in 40 OSAHS patients and 9 healthy controls were measured by using ELISA method. Meanwhile the correlation between the concentration of VEGF and parameters of polysomnography （PSG） was examined. Our results showed that the concentrations of VEGF were significantly higher in OSAHS patients with severe hypoxia （536.8±334.7 pg/mL） than in those with mild hypoxia （329.2±174.7 pg/mL） and healthy controls （272. 8±211.0 pg/mL） （P〈0.05 for both）. The concentrations of VEGF were also significantly higher in OSAHS patients with hypertension （484.5±261.4 pg/mL） than in those without hypertension （311.0±158.4 pg/mL） and healthy controls （272. 8±211.0 pg/mL） （P〈0.05 for both）. There was a positive correlation between the concentration of VEGF and the apnea hypopnea index （AHI） （r=0.34, P〈0.05）. It is concluded that the concentration of the serum VEGF is positively related to the severity of OSAHS. The elevated serum VEGF level may be involved in the pathogenesis of the complications of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

Postoperative secondary aggravation of obstructive sleep apneahypopnea syndrome and hypoxemia with bilateral carotid body tumor:A case report

BACKGROUND Carotid body tumor(CBT)is a chemoreceptor tumor located in the carotid body,accounting for approximately 0.22%of head and neck tumors.Surgery is the main treatment method for the disease.CASE SUMMARY We reviewed the diagnosis and treatment of one patient who had postoperative secondary aggravation of obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)and hypoxia after surgical resection of bilateral CBTs.This patient was admitted,and relevant laboratory and imaging examinations,and polysomnography(PSG)were performed.After the definitive diagnosis,continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)treatment was given,which achieved good efficacy.CONCLUSION This case suggested that aggravation of OSAHS and hypoxemia is possibly caused by the postoperative complications after bilateral CBTs,and diagnosis by PSG and CPAP treatment are helpful for this patient.

Correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and central retinal vein occlusion

To investigate the possible correlation between obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) and central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO). Thirty consecutive patients with a recent(<3 mo)CRVO and an age-and sex-matched group of 30 control subjects were recruited. All subjects underwent full-night polysomnography to measure apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)and oxygen desaturation index(ODI). The average AHI and ODI were significantly higher in CRVO patients(AHI:13.86±8.63, ODI: 9.21±4.47) than in control subjects(AHI:8.51±6.36, ODI: 5.87±3.18;P=0.008 and 0.001 respectively).Additionally, the AHI was positively correlated with body mass index(BMI;r=0.476, P=0.017) and ODI(r=0.921,P<0.01) in both CRVO and control subjects. According to AHI scores, twenty-two(73.33%) CRVO patients had OSA and 12(40.00%) control subjects had OSA, a difference that was statistically significant(P=0.019). OSA may be a risk factor for or a trigger of CRVO development.

Relation between the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Severity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may promote hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension (HTN). Purpose: To evaluate if there is a relationship between the severity of OSA and the severity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and HTN in our patients, aiming to understand and optimize the control for comorbidities. Materials and Methods: Patients referred for polysomnography (PSG) were retrospectively recruited during the period from October 2017 to August 2020. A STOP-BANG questionnaire formed eight questions was used to assess the risk of OSAS. We divided the patients into two groups;group 1, who have snoring without T2DM, and group 2, who have snoring with T2DM. PSG was completed for all subjects and data were collected for each patient including apnoea hypopnea index (AHI), mean arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and Nadir SaO2 recorded during PSG. Anthropometric data, medical history, and medications for T2DM (for group 2) and HTN and HbA1c were collected (for group 2). AHI was used to evaluate the severity of OSA and its relation to T2DM and HTN. Results: The study included 300 patients who met the inclusion criteria with mean age of 49.9 ± 13.6 years. The majority of subjects (56.3%) were males and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 38.0 ± 8.4 kg/m2. Forty-two percent had HTN and 32.7% had T2DM. OSA was diagnosed in 209 patients (69.7%). OSA was more detected among those with increased age, increased BMI, and those with HTN and T2DM. The severity of both HTN and T2DM was significantly higher among patients with OSA. Conclusions: There is a relation between OSA and T2DM and HTN. The risk of OSA is higher among patients with uncontrolled T2DM and HTN. OSA should be suspected in subjects with obesity, especially with uncontrolled HTN and T2DM.

Higher ambient temperatures may worsen obstructive sleep apnea:A nationwide smartwatch-based analysis of 6.2 million person-days

Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)is a serious type of sleep disorder that can lead to cardiometabolic and neurocognitive diseases.We utilized smart device-based photoplethysmography technology to collect sleep data from the Chinese population from 2019 to 2022.Distributed lag nonlinear models combined with a generalized nonlinear model or a linear mixed effects model were used to investigate the shortterm associations between daily temperature and indicators of OSA severity.We included a total of 6,232,056 d of sleep monitoring data from 51,842 participants with moderate to severe risk of OSA from 313 Chinese cities.The relationships between ambient temperature and OSA exacerbation,apneahypopnea index(AHI),and minimum oxygen saturation(MinSpO_(2))were almost linear and present only on the same day.Higher temperatures were associated with a greater risk of OSA exacerbation,with an 8.4%(95%confidence interval(CI):7.6%–9.3%)increase per 10℃increase in temperature.A 10℃increase in daily temperature corresponded to an AHI increase of 0.70 events/h(95%CI:0.65–0.76)and a MinSpO_(2)decrease of 0.18%(95%CI:0.16%–0.19%).Exposure to elevated temperatures during the night can also lead to adverse effects.The effects of higher temperatures on OSA severity were stronger among men,participants with a body mass index24 kg/m2,those aged 45 years and older,individuals with a history of hypertension and diabetes,and during the cold season.This large-scale,nationwide,longitudinal study provides robust evidence suggesting that higher ambient temperatures may immediately worsen OSA.

Polysomnographic sleep aspects in liver cirrhosis: A case control study

AIM: To study sleep aspects and parameters in cirrhotic patients and assess the role of liver dysfunction severity in polysomnographic results. METHODS: This was a case-control study. Patients with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis were consecutively enrolled in the study. Clinical examinations and laboratory liver tests were performed in all patients, and disease severity was assessed using the Child-Pugh score. The control group consisted of ageand gender-matched healthy volunteers. All individuals answered a questionnaire about habits, behaviors, and complaints related to sleep and were submitted to polysomnography. Sleep parameters were compared between the two groups, and separate analyses were performed among classesof Child-Pugh classification in the cirrhotic group. RESULTS: Forty-two cirrhotic patients and forty-two controls were enrolled. Compared to the control group, the cirrhotic group exhibited lower sleep efficiency (mean ± SD: 73.89% ± 14.99% vs 84.43% ± 8.55%, P < 0.01), increased latency (151.27 ± 93.24 min vs 90.62 ± 54.74 min, P < 0.01) and a lower percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (14.04% ± 5.64% vs 20.71% ± 6.77%, P < 0.05) as well as a higher frequency of periodic limb movements (10.56 ± 2.85/h vs 2.79 ± 0.61/h, P < 0.01). The comparison of sleep parameters among Child A, B and C cirrhotic patients revealed a significant reduction of REM sleep stage occurrence in individuals with severe liver disease (Child C patients) compared to Child A/B patients (polysomnography percentage of REM sleep stage of patients Child A: 16.1% ± 1.2%; Child B: 14.9% ± 1.2%; Child C: 8.6% ± 1.6%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cirrhosis was associated with shorter sleep time, reduced sleep efficiency, increased sleep latency, increased REM latency and reduced REM sleep. Additionally, disease severity influences sleep parameters.

Effect of nocturia in patients with different severity of obstructive sleep apnea on polysomnography: A retrospective observational study

Patients with suspected OSA were examined using PSG.They were divided into two groups based on the presence of nocturia.Nocturia was defined as a patient who needed to void at least once.Apneaehypopnea index(AHI)was employed to classify patients according to degrees of severity:AHI<5 events/h,5 events/h
AHI<15 events/h,15 events/h
AHI<30 events/h,and AHI30 events/h,defined as normal,mild OSA,moderate OSA,and severe OSA,respectively.Demographic variables,PSG parameters,International Prostate Symptom Scores(IPSSs),and quality of life scores due to urinary symptoms were analyzed.Results:In total 140 patients,114 patients had OSA(48 had mild OSA;34 had moderate OSA;and 32 had severe OSA)and 107 patients had nocturia.The total IPSS was significantly higher in nocturia patients in all groups except the group of severe OSA patients.With the increasing severity of OSA,more correlated factors related to nocturia were determined.In mild OSA patients,nocturia related to increased age(p=0.025),minimum arterial blood oxygenation saturation(p=0.046),and decreased AHI of non-rapid eye movement(p=0.047),AHI of total sleep time(p=0.010),and desaturation index(p=0.012).In moderate OSA patients,nocturia related to increased age(p<0.001),awake time(p=0.025),stage 1 sleep(p=0.033),and sleep latency(p=0.033),and decreased height(p=0.044),weight(p=0.025),and sleep efficiency(p=0.003).In severe OSA patients,nocturia related to increased weight(p=0.011),body mass index(p=0.009),awake time(p=0.008),stage 1 sleep(p=0.040),arousal number(p=0.030),arousal index(p=0.013),periodic limb movement number(p=0.013),and periodic limb movement index(p=0.004),and decreased baseline arterial blood oxygenation saturation(p=0.046).Conclusion:Our study revealed that there were more correlated factors related to nocturia with increasing severity of OSA.This study helps in clinical education and treatment for OSA patients with different severity.

Gender Differences in Rapid Eye Movement-Related Sleep Disordered Breathing

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is known to be associated more frequently with men than women, particularly in the premenopausal age range. The goal of this study is to evaluate gender differences among Korean patients diagnosed with SBD. This study included 309 patients who visited our Sleep Clinic due to sleep-related symptoms and were diagnosed with SDB by overnight polysomnography (PSG). We analyzed age, gender, body mass index, various PSG indices including sleep stages, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and AHI ratio in rapid eye movement (REM) versus non-REM (NREM) sleep stages (R:N ratio). Of those 309 patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, 217 (70.2%) were men (mean age 51.05 ± 12.64 years) and 92 (29.8%) were women (mean age 64.53 ± 10.43 years). The mean AHI during total sleep time was 30.34 ± 21.17 in men and 21.47 ± 17.14 in women (P P P = 0.402). REM SDB with R:N ratio higher than 2.0 was more frequently observed in women than in men, 34.8% (32/92) of women, compared with 11.9% (26/217) in men (P 60 years old. These findings suggest the possibility of different pathophysiologic mechanisms of SDB between genders and also between NREM versus REM sleep, which can be partly explained by the influence of female sex hormones.

Imbalance of osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand and oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

Background:Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is associated with a higher prevalence of osteoporosis.However,the underlying mechanisms linking OSAHS with bone loss are still unclear.The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL,an osteoclastogenesis-promoting factor) and osteoprotegerin (OPG,the decoy receptor for RANKL),oxidative stress and bone metabolism markers in OSAHS,in order to understand the potential mechanisms underlying bone loss in OSAHS patients.Methods:Forty-eight male patients with OSAHS,confirmed by polysomnography (PSG) study,were enrolled.Twenty male subjects who were confirmed as not having OSAHS served as the controls.The subjects’bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed in lumbar spine and femoral neck using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).Blood samples were collected from all subjects for measurement of RANKL,OPG,the bone formation marker bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP),the bone resorption marker tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP-5b),and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC).Results:The BMD and the T-score of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine were significantly lower in OSAHS patients as compared to the control group (P< 0.05).The serum level of BAP was significantly decreased in the OSAHS group (15.62 ± 5.20 μg/L) as compared to the control group (18.83 ± 5.50 μg/L,t= -2.235,P< 0.05),while the levels of TRAP-5b did not differ between the two groups (t= -1.447,P> 0.05).The serum level of OPG and the OPG/RANKL ratio were lower in the OSAHS group compared to the control group (bothP< 0.05).TAOC level was also decreased significantly in the OSAHS group (P< 0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the TAOC level was positively correlated with BAP in the OSAHS group (r= 0.248,P= 0.04),but there were no correlations between TAOC and the BMD or the T-scores.The correlations between the level of OPG (or the OPG/RANKL ratio) and BMD or TAOC did not reach significance.Conclusion:In OSAHS patients,lower levels of TAOC were associated with decreased bone formation,suggesting a role of oxidative stress in bone loss,while the role of OPG/RANKL imbalance in bone metabolism in OSAHS needs further evaluation .

Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Glycemic Excursions and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-hypopnea Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes

Background： For patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） and type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）, the night sleep interruption and intermittent hypoxia due to apnea or hypopnea may induce glycemic excursions and reduce insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） therapy in patients with OSAHS and T2DM. Methods： Continuous glucose monitoring system （CGMS） was used in 40 patients with T2DM and newly diagnosed OSAHS. The measurements were repeated after 30 days of CPAP treatment. Subsequently, insulin sensitivity and glycohemoglobin （HbAlc） were measured and compared to the pretreatment data. Results： After CPAP therapy, the CGMS indicators showed that the 24-h mean blood glucose （MBG） and the night time MBG were significantly reduced （P 〈 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively）. The mean ambulatory glucose excursions （MAGEs） and the mean of daily differences were also significantly reduced （P 〈 0.05 and P = 0.002, respectively） compared to pretreatment levels. During the night, MAGE also significantly decreased （P = 0.049）. The differences between the highest and lowest levels of blood glucose over 24 h and during the night were significantly lower than prior to CPAP treatment （P 〈 0.05 and P = 0.024, respectively）. The 24 h and night time durations of high blood glucose （〉7.8 mmol/L and 〉 11.1 mmol/L） decreased （P 〈 0.05 and P 〈 0.05, respectively） after the treatment. In addition, HbA 1 c levels were also lower than those before treatment （P 〈 0.05）, and the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance was also significantly lower than before CPAP treatment （P = 0.034）. Conclusions： CPAP therapy may have a beneficial effect on improving not only blood glucose but also upon insulin sensitivity in T2DM patients with OSAHS. This suggests that CPAP may be an effective treatment for T2DM in addition to intensive diabetes management.

Analysis of the characteristics of coronary artery lesions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and influencing factors

Objective:The current study involved an analysis of the characteristics of coronary artery lesions of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)and the correspond-ing influencing factors.Methods:One hundred twenty patients were selected by sleep apnea monitoring and coronary angiography.According to the apnea-hypopnea index(AHI),the patients were divided into the following 3 groups:patients with an AHI<10 times/h as the control group(n=25);patients with an AHI=10~15 times/h as the mild OSAHS group(n=32);and patients with an AHI>15 times/h as the moderate-to-severe OSAHS group(n=63).The clinical and laboratory test data of patients in each group were collected.A single-factor ANOVA and multi-factor logistic regression analysis were performed on the study data to analyze the coronary artery lesions in patients with OSAHS and the corresponding influencing factors.Results:(1)With respect to smoking,alcohol consumption,BMI,blood glucose,blood lipids,and blood pressure among the three groups,there were no significant differences between the three groups;however,age did differ among the three groups(P<0.05).(2)The incidence of anterior descending artery,right coronary artery,single-vessel,and coronary artery lesions as determined by coronary angiography was significantly different(P<0.05).The incidence of these vascular lesions in the moderate-to-severe group was higher than the mild group,and the incidence of coro-nary artery lesions in the moderate-to-severe group was higher(P<0.0167).(3)Based on multi-factor logistic regression analysis,alcohol consumption(OR=7.058;95%CI,1.953-25.508),age(OR=1.845;95%CI,1.121-3.038),and the AHI(OR=2.404;95%CI,1.088-5.314)were the major risk factors for coronary artery lesions.Alcohol consumption(OR=12.114;95%CI,3.058-47.979)and the AHI(OR=3.052;95%CI,1.210-7.694)were the risk factors for single-vessel disease.Age(OR=2.812;95%CI,1.236-6.400)was the major risk factor for multi-vessel disease.Conclusion:The probability of coronary artery lesions increased with OSAHS severity.The main manifestation of the increased possibility was single-vessel coronary artery lesions.In single-vessel disease,the anterior descending branch and the right coronary artery were the most vulner-able,which may be related to the anatomic distribution.Alcohol consumption,age,and AHI are the major risk factors for coronary artery lesions.Alcohol consumption and AHI are major risk factors for single-vessel disease.Age is the main risk factor for multi-vessel disease.