Respiratory medications and sleep

Sleep disorders in children with asthma

Asthma and sleep disorders are both common in childhood, and often co-exist in the same child. Moreover, studies have shown that in many children the rate of one is influenced by the other. Sleep disorders can be classified into six different groups-insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnia, movement disorders, circadian disorders, and sleep-related breathing disorders. Children with asthma often present with complaints of insomnia with poor sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep and sleep disruptions. These complains are often associated with asthma control. They may also complain of daytime sleepiness and have higher rates of parasomnias, such as night terrors and nocturnal enuresis when compared with their healthy peers. Whether movement and circadian disorders are also more prevalent in children with asthma is less clear. Finally, there is a complex bidirectional interaction between sleep-related breathing disorders and asthma: poor sleep and sleep disorders may worsen asthma, and asthma, particularly when it is poorly controlled, may impair sleep. In the current review we examine the association of each of the sleep disorders with asthma and review the common pathophysiological pathways. We hope to convince the reader that appropriate management of asthma must include inquiries into the patient's sleep, and vice versa.

Sleep Disturbance, Sleep Disorders and Co-Morbidities in the Care of the Older Person

Sleep complaints can be both common and complex in the older patient. Their consideration is an important aspect of holistic care, and may have an impact on quality of life, mortality, falls and disease risk. Sleep assessment should form part of the comprehensive geriatric assessment. If sleep disturbance is brought to light, consideration of sleep disorders, co-morbidity and medication management should form part of a multifaceted approach. Appreciation of the bi-directional relationship and complex interplay between co-morbidity and sleep in older patients is an important element of patient care. This article provides a brief overview of sleep disturbance and sleep disorders in older patients, in addition to their association with specific co-morbidities including depression, heart failure, respiratory disorders, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, nocturia, pain, Parkinson's disease, dementia, polypharmacy and falls. A potential systematic multidomain approach to assessment and management is outlined, with an emphasis on non-pharmacological treatment where possible.

Effect of the novel dual orexin receptor antagonist daridorexant on night-time respiratory function and sleep in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep is often fragmented while, conversely, the use of sleep medications is of concern in these patients due to potential impairment of nocturnal breathing. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the new dual orexin receptor antagonist daridorexant on night-time respiratory function and sleep in patients with moderate COPD. In each period, the highest Phase-III dose of 50 mg daridorexant or placebo was administered once daily in the evening for 5 consecutive days. The primary endpoint was peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ) during total sleep time (TST) after last dosing. Night-time respiratory function and sleep were further evaluated based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), sleep duration, and objective sleep parameters. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability were also assessed. Primary endpoint analysis revealed no significant mean treatment difference (i.e. daridorexant - placebo) for SpO₂ during TST as it was 0.18% (90% confidence interval: -0.21 to 0.57). There was also no difference from placebo for SpO₂ during non-rapid eye movement (REM) and REM sleep at Night 5 and after first dosing. The AHI was slightly increased compared to placebo, but not to a clinically meaningful extent. In addition, daridorexant improved objective sleep parameters (i.e. prolonged TST, increased sleep efficiency, and decreased wake after sleep onset), reached expected plasma concentrations, and was safe and well tolerated. In conclusion, single and multiple doses of 50 mg daridorexant do not impair night-time respiratory function and improves sleep in patients with moderate COPD.

Psychoactive drug and medication use among patients referred to a tertiary sleep laboratory population

Psychoactive drugs including alcohol, caffeine, and prescription medications are commonly consumed to alter sleep/wake states, however the prevalence and impact of these drugs among populations seeking assessment from sleep physicians are unknown. We investigated the prevalence of commonly used drugs (alcohol and caffeine), and medications in a population (N=120; 50 females and 70 males) attending a tertiary sleep clinic for diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) assessment. In addition to objective sleep assessment, participants completed questionnaires assessing sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT), caffeine and medication use, as well as their experience of adverse events (motor vehicle accidents and near-miss crashes). Caffeine was consumed by 90% of the population and was associated with a reduction in excessive sleepiness symptomology; while high AUDIT scores were associated with increased near-miss crashes. Polypharmacy was common, with a greater number of medications associated with poorer sleep quality, and changes in sleep architecture. This study maps commonly used drugs in those attending a tertiary sleep clinic, and demonstrates associations between drug use and sleep outcomes assessed objectively and subjectively.

Prevalence of self-reported sleep problems amongst adults with obstructive airway disease in the NHANES cohort in the United States

RATIONALE

Sleep and respiratory problems are common in adults in the USA. However, sleep problems often remain undiagnosed in patients with obstructive airway diseases (OADs). This study was designed to examine the association between sleep problems and different categories of OAD amongst US adults.

METHODS

We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study using a nationally representative sample of the US civilian non-institutionalized population from 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 3204 study participants aged ≥35 years were stratified into four groups, using a self-reported history of asthma and data from spirometry: asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) (n = 70, 2.2%), asthma (n = 168, 5.2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n = 412, 12.8%), and those without any OAD (normal) (n = 2554, 79.7%). After characterizing the baseline demographics and health status of the four groups, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the likelihood of sleep problems in adults after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), depression, and diabetes. The index sample was the normal group. Sleep problems were defined as any complaints which affect or involve sleep.

RESULTS

The participants with COPD were older (62.0 ± 11.7 years) as compared to ACO (59.1 ± 11.3 years), asthma (53.6 ± 11.3), and normal groups (53.8 ± 12.1) (p < 0.0001). Comparing baseline characteristics between the four groups, there were significant associations between OAD status and sleep problems including inadequate sleep, sleep-onset insomnia, snoring, frequent trouble sleeping, nocturnal arousals, early morning awakenings, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, use of prescription medication for sleep, leg jerks, leg cramps, difficulty in concentration, and difficulty in remembering things when tired. The multivariate logistic regression models evaluating the prevalence of sleep problems in individual OADs showed a stronger association between asthma and sleep problems as compared to COPD and ACO and sleep disorders.

CONCLUSION

All OADs are associated with a higher prevalence of sleep problems. There is a stronger association between asthma and sleep problems as compared to COPD and ACO. We speculate that the nocturnal burden of asthma contributes to sleep problems. Our results suggest that adults with OAD should be aggressively screened for sleep problems.