Should all sleep apnoea patients be treated?

Sleep apnoea is a condition in which people stop breathing during sleep. A number of studies in general and worker populations have shown that the prevalence of an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) > 10 is in the range of 20%. Subjects with an AHI > 10 that complain of excessive daytime somnolence, tiredness, asphyxic episodes during the night or non-refreshing sleep, among other symptoms, suffer from the sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS). The prevalence of SAHS is around 4%. Owing to its high prevalence, clinical symptoms, probable secondary cardiovascular consequences and associated social problems, SAHS has a considerable impact on health, management of which is worth considering. Despite the fact that SAHS treatment has been challenged recent studies conclude that nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is undoubtedly effective in clearly symptomatic patients. Its use in clinical practice is adequately supported in the treatment of moderate to severe SAHS. Further studies are needed in order to define the lower range of symptoms to be treated. One of the most important problems encountered in this area results from the combination of two situations. On the one hand, different epidemiological studies have demonstrated that an AHI > 10 without symptoms is present in around 15% of the general population. On the other hand, several studies suggest that having a high AHI, even without secondary symptoms, gives rise to some undesirable effects such as traffic accidents and cardiovascular consequences. In this context, comprehensive epidemiological studies are therefore warranted to define the role of nCPAP treatment especially in those subjects with a high AHI but with few or no symptoms. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Ambulatory monitoring in the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disorder associated with complications such as arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and traffic accidents. The resources allocated for OSA are insufficient and OSA is a significant public health problem. Portable recording devices have been developed for the detection of OSA syndrome and have proved capable of providing an equivalent diagnosis to in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG), at least in patients with a high pre-test probability of OSA syndrome. PSG becomes important in patients who have symptoms and certain comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or stroke, as well as in patients with a clinical history suggesting a different sleep disorder. Continuous positive airway pressure is the most effective treatment in OSA. Ambulatory monitoring of the therapeutic modalities has been evaluated to enhance the care process and reduce costs compared to the conventional approach, without sacrificing efficiency. This review evaluates the role of portable monitoring devices in the diagnostic process of OSA and the search for alternative strategies based on ambulatory management protocols

Towards an Intelligent Monitoring System for Patients with Obstrusive Sleep Apnea

Due to the growing incidence of chronic diseases and aging populations, the pressure to control costs and the expectations of continuous improvements in the quality of service have increased the need to understand how healthcare is provided and to determine whether cost-effective improvements to care practices can be made. In the case of people suffering Obstructive Sleep Apnea, patients using self-administer nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) may receive information on the treatment only once they go to a visit with the lung specialist. In this paper, we propose an IoT-based Intelligent Monitoring System that relies on machine learning to achieve a threefold goal: (1) it is aimed at early detecting compliance in order to predict CPAP usage; (2) it monitors the actual adherence degree to the treatment to keep informed both the patient and the lung specialists; and (3) it sends recommendations to the patient to empower her/him and to better follow up

Investigation and management of residual sleepiness in CPAP-treated patients with obstructive sleep apnoea : the European view

International audienceExcessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a major symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), defined as the inability to stay awake during the day. Its clinical descriptors remain elusive, and the pathogenesis is complex, with disorders such as insufficient sleep and depression commonly associated. Subjective EDS can be evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, in which the patient reports the probability of dozing in certain situations; however, its reliability has been challenged. Objective tests such as the multiple sleep latency test or the maintenance of wakefulness test are not commonly used in patients with OSA, since they require nocturnal polysomnography, daytime testing and are expensive. Drugs for EDS are available in the United States but were discontinued in Europe some time ago. For European respiratory physicians, treatment of EDS with medication is new and they may lack experience in pharmacological treatment of EDS, while novel wake-promoting drugs have been recently developed and approved for clinical use in OSA patients in the USA and Europe. This review will discuss 1) the potential prognostic significance of EDS in OSA patients at diagnosis, 2) the prevalence and predictors of residual EDS in treated OSA patients, and 3) the evolution of therapy for EDS specifically for Europe

The Sleep Apnea cardioVascular Endpoints (SAVE) Trial: Rationale, Ethics, Design, and Progress

Freely available online from PubMed Central ABSTRACT: The Sleep Apnea cardioVascular Endpoints (SAVE) study is an ongoing investigator-initiated and conducted, international, multicenter, open, blinded endpoint, randomized controlled trial that was designed to determine whether treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) can reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with established CV disease (clinical trial registration NCT00738179). The results of this study will have important implications for the provision of health care to patients with sleep apnea around the world. The SAVE study has brought together respiratory, sleep, CV and stroke clinicians-scientists in an interdisciplinary collaboration with industry and government sponsorship to conduct an ambitious clinical trial. Following its launch in Australia and China in late 2008, the recruitment network expanded across 89 sites that included New Zealand, India, Spain, USA, and Brazil for a total of 2,717 patients randomized by December 2013. These patients are being followed until December 2015 so that the average length of follow-up of the cohort will be over 4 y. This article describes the rationale for the SAVE study, considerations given to the design including how various cultural and ethical challenges were addressed, and progress in establishing and maintaining the recruitment network, patient follow-up, and adherence to CPAP and procedures. The assumptions underlying the original trial sample size calculation and why this was revised downward in 2012 are also discussed. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00738179. AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY NUMBER: ACTRN12608000409370

Sleep Apnea: Types, Mechanisms, and Clinical Cardiovascular Consequences.

Sleep apnea is highly prevalent in patients with cardiovascular disease. These disordered breathing events are associated with a profile of perturbations that include intermittent hypoxia, oxidative stress, sympathetic activation, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which are critical mediators of cardiovascular disease. Evidence supports a causal association of sleep apnea with the incidence and morbidity of hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, and stroke. Several discoveries in the pathogenesis, along with developments in the treatment of sleep apnea, have accumulated in recent years. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of sleep apnea, the evidence that addresses the links between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease, and research that has addressed the effect of sleep apnea treatment on cardiovascular disease and clinical endpoints. Finally, we review the recent development in sleep apnea treatment options, with special consideration of treating patients with heart disease. Future directions for selective areas are suggested