Sleep and cardiometabolic comorbidities in the obstructive sleep apnoea-COPD overlap syndrome: data from the European Sleep Apnoea Database

Aim The impact of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)-COPD overlap syndrome (OVS) on sleep quality and cardiovascular outcomes has not been fully explored. We aimed to compare clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of patients with OVS versus patients with OSA, and to explore pathophysiological links between OVS and comorbidities. Study design and methods This cross-sectional analysis initially included data from 5600 patients with OSA and lung function in the European Sleep Apnoea Database. Two subgroups of patients with OSA (n=1018) or OVS (n=509) were matched (2:1) based on sex, age, body mass index and apnoea-hypopnea index at baseline. Results After matching, patients with OVS had more severe hypoxia, lower sleep efficiency and presented with higher prevalences of arterial hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and heart failure compared with patients with OSA. OVS was associated with a significant decrease in sleep efficiency (mean difference (beta) -3.0%, 95% CI -4.7 to -1.3) and in nocturnal mean peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation (S-pO2) (beta -1.1%, 95% CI -1.5 to -0.7). Further analysis revealed that a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s and arterial oxygen tension was related to a decrease in sleep efficiency and in mean nocturnal S-pO2. A COPD diagnosis increased the odds of having heart failure by 1.75 (95% CI 1.15-2.67) and systemic hypertension by 1.36 (95% CI 1.07-1.73). Nocturnal hypoxia was strongly associated with comorbidities; the mean nocturnal S-pO2 and T90 (increase in time below S-pO2 of 90%) were associated with increased odds of systemic hypertension, diabetes and heart failure but the oxygen desaturation index was only related to hypertension and diabetes. Conclusion Patients with OVS presented with more sleep-related hypoxia, a reduced sleep quality and a higher risk for heart failure and hypertension.The ESADA study group received unrestricted funding grants from the Respironics and Resmed Foundations, and an unrestricted collaboration grant from Bayer AG

Management of obstructive sleep apnea in Europe-A 10-year follow-up

Objective: In 2010, a questionnaire-based study on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management in Europe identified differences regarding reimbursement, sleep specialist qualification, and titration procedures. Now, 10 years later, a follow-up study was conducted as part of the ESADA (European Sleep Apnea Database) network to explore the development of OSA management over time.Methods: The 2010 questionnaire including questions on sleep diagnostic, reimbursement, treatment, and certification was updated with questions on telemedicine and distributed to European Sleep Centers to reflect European OSA management practice.Results: 26 countries (36 sleep centers) participated, representing 20 ESADA and 6 non-ESADA countries. All 21 countries from the 2010 survey participated. In 2010, OSA diagnostic procedures were performed mainly by specialized physicians (86%), whereas now mainly by certified sleep specialists and specialized physicians (69%). Treatment and titration procedures are currently quite homogenous, with a strong trend towards more Autotitrating Positive Airway Pressure treatment (in hospital 73%, at home 62%). From 2010 to 2020, home sleep apnea testing use increased (76%-89%) and polysomnography as sole diagnostic procedure decreased (24%-12%). Availability of a sleep specialist qualification increased (52%-65%) as well as the number of certified polysomnography scorers (certified physicians: 36%-79%; certified technicians: 20%-62%). Telemedicine, not surveyed in 2010, is now in 2020 used in diagnostics (8%), treatment (50%), and follow-up (73%). Conclusion: In the past decade, formal qualification of sleep center personnel increased, OSA diagnostic and treatment procedures shifted towards a more automatic approach, and telemedicine became more prominent.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Mild obstructive sleep apnea increases hypertension risk, challenging traditional severity classification

Study Objectives: The association of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with important clinical outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between mild OSA and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) in the European Sleep Apnea Database cohort. Methods: In a multicenter sample of 4,732 participants, we analyzed the risk of mild OSA (subclassified into 2 groups: MildAHI 5-<11/h (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], 5 to <11 events/h) and mildAHI 11-<15/h (AHI, .11 to <15 events/h) compared with nonapneic snorers for prevalent SAH after adjustment for relevant confounding factors including sex, age, smoking, obesity, daytime sleepiness, dyslipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, and sleep test methodology (polygraphy or polysomnography). Results: SAH prevalence was higher in the mildAHI 11-<15/h OSA group compared with the mildAHI 5-<11/h group and nonapneic snorers (52% vs 45% vs 30%; P < -001). Corresponding adjusted odds ratios for SAH were 1.789 (mildAHI 11-<15/h; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49.2.15) and 1.558 (mildAHI 5-<11/h; 95%, CI, 1.34.1.82), respectively (P <.001). In sensitivity analysis, mildAHI 11-<15/h OSA remained a significant predictor for SAH both in the polygraphy (odds ratio, 1.779; 95% CI, 1.403.2.256; P < -001) and polysomnography groups (odds ratio, 1.424; 95% CI, 1.047.1.939; P = .025). Conclusions: Our data suggest a dose-response relationship betweenmild OSA and SAH risk, starting from 5 events/h in polygraphy recordings and continuing with a further risk increase in the 11-to <150-events/h range. These findings potentially introduce a challenge to traditional thresholds of OSA severity and may help to stratify participants with OSA according to cardiovascular risk