Sleep apnea: a proinflammatory disorder that coaggregates with obesity

The Need for Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Research to Understand and Intervene on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) disorder, affects at least 25 million adults in the United States and is associated with increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Racial/ethnic minorities have a disproportionate burden of OSA along with the health sequelae associated with this condition. Despite supporting evidence of racial/ethnic disparities, few studies have investigated SDB including OSA among minoritized racial/ethnic groups. In this scoping review of the literature, the authors summarize current findings related to racial/ethnic disparities in OSA, identified social and environmental determinants of health, treatment inequities, and promising evidence-based interventions and conclude with future research directions.

Is there a relationship between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and the systemic immune inflammation index?

AIM

Vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are considered responsible for the pathophysiology of Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). It is thought that desaturation due to apnea-hypopnea attacks in OSAS patients activates inflammatory pathways. In this study, we aimed to reveal the relationship between inflammation parameters Systemic immune inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLR) severity of OSAS in patients who underwent polysomnography in our hospital's sleep laboratory.

METHODS

We grouped our 171 patients who were followed up in our sleep laboratory with the diagnosis of OSAS according to their AHI values. We evaluated the correlation of SII, NLR, and PLR values obtained from the complete blood tests of our patients with OSAS diagnosis and OSAS severity.

RESULTS

The mean NLR, PLR and SII values of patients with OSAS were statistically significantly higher than those without OSAS (p < 0.05). A positive correlation of 18% was found between the presence of OSAS and the SII value (p = 0.016). No statistically significant difference was found when comparing OSAS severity and NLR, PLR and SII values (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We observed that SII, NLR and PLR parameters, which are rapidly assessable systemic inflammation markers of this process, were independently associated in patients diagnosed with OSAS and that there was no change in SII, NLR, and PLR parameters with OSAS severity.

Exploring the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and atrial fibrillation: implications for risk stratification and management

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by the absence of p-waves on ECG and irregular rhythm. It often presents with palpitations either palpitations may occur acutely over a short period or intermittently over several years. Other cardinal symptoms of atrial fibrillation include fatigue, dyspnea, and lightheadedness; it is important however to note that most affected individuals are asymptomatic. Concurrently, sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, narcolepsy, and circadian rhythm disorders which are a group of conditions associated with the body's internal clock that affect the timing of sleep and alertness, are raising concerns due to their potential associations to arrhythmias. This review explores the bidirectional relationship between AF and sleep disorders, highlighting their implications for risk stratification and management strategies.

MAIN BODY

The narrative approach of this review synthesizes evidence from numerous studies obtained through meticulous literature searches. Specific sleep disorders with a bidirectional relationship with AF are the focus, with scrutiny on the prevalence of this connection. The examination delves into the pathophysiology of sleep-related autonomic dysregulation and inflammation, emphasizing potential management modalities. Various meta-analysis cohorts have highlighted a strong connection between sleep disorders and atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with sleep disorders, especially OSA, have a higher likelihood of developing AF, and conversely, those with AF are more prone to sleep disorders. This impact is not limited to development, as sleep disorders also contribute to the progression of AF, with AF, in turn, negatively impacting sleep duration and quality. Sleep disorders may play an important role in atrial remodeling as well as electrophysiological abnormalities, rendering the atrial tissue more susceptible to arrhythmogenesis. The narrative review suggests that treating sleep disorders could not only improve sleep quality but also reduce risk factors associated with atrial fibrillation. The effective management of sleep disorders emerges as a potential challenge in preventing and treating atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this narrative study highlights the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and atrial fibrillation. There is a positive correlation, affecting the development, progression, and management of atrial fibrillation. The detrimental impact of sleep disorders on atrial remodeling and electrophysiological abnormalities underscores the significance of their diagnosis and treatment. Education about the importance of sleep and the benefits of sleep disorder treatment becomes imperative for patients with AF and sleep disorders.

Risk of Sleep Apnea Is Associated with Abdominal Obesity Among Asian Americans: Comparing Waist-to-Hip Ratio and Body Mass Index

OBJECTIVE

This study examines associations between the risk of sleep apnea and abdominal obesity (assessed by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) and general obesity (assessed by body mass index (BMI)) in a sample of Chinese and Korean American immigrants.

METHODS

The dataset included Chinese and Korean participants aged 50-75 who were recruited from primary care physicians' clinics from April 2018 to June 2020 in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. Metropolitan area (n = 394). Abdominal obesity was determined if WHR ≥ 0.9 in men and WHR ≥ 0.85 in women. General obesity was determined if BMI ≥ 30. The risk of sleep apnea was determined by using the Berlin questionnaire. Poisson regression models examined associations between sleep apnea risk and obesity. Models controlled for socio-demographic risk factors.

RESULTS

Twelve percent of the study participants were classified as a high risk for sleep apnea, and 75% had abdominal obesity whereas 6.4% had general obesity. High risk of sleep apnea was positively associated with abdominal obesity (PR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.17-1.47) and general obesity (PR = 2.19, 95% CI: 0.90-5.32), marginally significant at p < 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese and Korean immigrants living in the USA who are at high risk of sleep apnea have higher abdominal obesity, even after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics. Abdominal obesity may be a better indicator than general obesity when examining the risk of sleep apnea among Asian Americans.

INFORMATION ON CLINICAL TRIAL

Name: Screening To Prevent ColoRectal Cancer (STOP CRC) among At-Risk Asian American Primary Care Patients NCT Number: NCT03481296; Date of registration: March 29, 2018 URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03481296?term=Sunmin+Lee&draw=2&rank=1.

The joint association of ambient air pollution and different sleep posture with mild obstructive sleep apnea: A study conducted at Taipei Sleep Center

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests the detrimental impact of supine position and air pollution on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as well as the potential benefits of nonsupine positions. However, their interaction effects on OSA remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the interaction effects of air pollution (NO2/PM2.5) and sleep position on OSA on additive and multiplicative scales.

METHODS

This study included 3330 individuals. Personal exposure to air pollution was assessed using a spatiotemporal model. OSA was diagnosed through polysomnography. The associations of supine and nonsupine positions and air pollutants with mild-OSA and their interaction effects on mild-OSA. were explored through generalized logistic regression.

RESULTS

Supine position and high NO2 level independently increased the risk of mild-OSA, while PM2.5 was not associated with mild-OSA. Significant interactions were observed between supine position and NO2 at different lag periods (0-7 days, 0-1 year, and 0-2 years) (P = 0.042, 0.013, and 0.010, respectively). The relative excess risks due to interactions on the additive scale for 1-week, 1-year, and 2-year NO2 exposure and supine position were 0.63 (95 % CI: 0.10-1.16), 0.56 (95 % CI: 0.13-0.99), and 0.64 (95 % CI: 0.18-1.10); the corresponding odds ratios for interactions on the multiplicative scale were 1.45 (95 % CI: 1.01-2.07), 1.55 (95 % CI: 1.09-2.22), and 1.60 (95 % CI: 1.12-2.28). The positive interactions persisted in men and participants with obesity. No interaction was observed between nonsupine position and NO2 levels; nevertheless, significant interactions were noted on both the negative additive and multiplicative scales in men.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged supine sleep significantly increased the risk of mild-OSA, particularly in men and individuals with obesity. Although the benefits of nonsupine position are considerably less than the risks of NO2 exposure, avoiding prolonged supine sleep may reduce the risk of mild-OSA caused by high levels of NO2 in men.

A high body mass index strengthens the association between the time of eye rubbing and keratoconus in a Chinese population: a case control study

BACKGROUND

Although body mass index (BMI) and eye rubbing are linked to an increased risk of keratoconus (KC), the interactive effect of eye rubbing and BMI on KC is largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of BMI and eye rubbing on KC and to further explore the role of environmental factors on the occurrence of KC.

METHODS

A total of 621 individuals (291 KC patients and 330 control individuals) were enrolled in this hospital‑based study on KC patients in Central China after individuals missing BMI data were excluded. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Data on eye rubbing was recorded through face-to-face interviews. Generalized linear regression models were used to analyze associations among BMI, eye rubbing and KC. Interaction plots were used to describe the interactive effects of BMI and eye rubbing on KC.

RESULTS

The β and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 0.923 (0.112, 1.733) (p = 0.026) and 3.356 (1.953, 4.759) (p < 0.001), respectively, for the effect of each 10 kg/m2 increase in BMI and each 1 min increase in eye rubbing on KC. The interaction of BMI and eye rubbing were positively correlated with KC (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that a high BMI aggravated the negative effect of eye rubbing on KC, implying that individuals with a high BMI may be more susceptible to exposure to eye rubbing, which is related to an increased risk of KC.

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and their interaction with physical activity on insomnia: A prospective cohort study

Exposure to air pollution or lack of physical activity (PA) increases the risk of insomnia. However, evidence on joint exposure to air pollutants is limited, and the interaction of joint air pollutants and PA on insomnia is unknown. This prospective cohort study included 40,315 participants with related data from the UK Biobank, which recruited participants from 2006 to 2010. Insomnia was assessed by self-reported symptoms. The annual average air pollutant concentrations of particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides (NO₂, NO_X), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) were calculated based on participants' addresses. We applied a weighted Cox regression model to evaluate the correlation between air pollutants and insomnia and newly proposed an air pollution score to assess joint air pollutants effect using a weighted concentration summation after obtaining the weights of each pollutant in the Weighted-quantile sum regression. With a median follow-up of 8.7 years, 8511 participants developed insomnia. For each 10 μg/m³ increase in NO₂, NO_X, PM₁₀, SO₂, the average hazard ratios (AHRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of insomnia were 1.10 (1.06, 1.14), 1.06 (1.04, 1.08), 1.35 (1.25, 1.45) and 2.58 (2.31, 2.89), respectively; For each 5 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 and each 1 mg/m³ increase in CO, the corresponding AHRs (95%CI) were 1.27 (1.21, 1.34) and 1.83 (1.10, 3.04), respectively. The AHR (95%CI) for insomnia associated with per interquartile range (IQR) increase in air pollution scores were 1.20 (1.15, 1.23). In addition, potential interactions were examined by setting cross-product terms of air pollution score with PA in the models. We observed an interaction between air pollution scores and PA (P = 0.032). The associations between joint air pollutants and insomnia were attenuated among participants with higher PA. Our study provides evidence on developing strategies for improving healthy sleep by promoting PA and reducing air pollution.

Co-exposure to multiple air pollutants and sleep disordered breathing in patients with or without obstructive sleep apnea: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Air pollution may be a contributing risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the health effects of co-exposure to multiple air pollutants on OSA patients remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the joint effect of multi-pollutant on sleep disordered breathing (SDB) parameters in patients with or without OSA and identify the dominant pollutants.

METHODS

A total of 2524 outpatients from April 2020 to May 2021 were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Ambient air pollutant data were obtained from the nearest central monitoring stations to participants' residential address. SDB parameters were measured by the ApneaLink devices, including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), hypopnea index (HI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), average oxygen saturation (SpO₂), percentage sleep time with <90% saturation (T90), and desaturation. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was applied to evaluate the effects of multiple pollutants.

RESULTS

Significant associations were observed between air pollutants and SDB parameters (including increases in AHI, HI, ODI, and desaturation) among patients with OSA. Co-exposure to air pollutants was positively correlated with AHI, HI, and ODI. PM₁₀ and O₃ dominated the effects of pollutant mixtures on OSA, with the highest posterior inclusion probability (PIP) values of 0.592 and 0.640, respectively. Stratified analysis showed that, compared to male patients with OSA, stronger effects on the SDB parameters were observed in female patients. Stronger associations were also found in the warm season than those in the cold season.

CONCLUSION

Co-exposure to air pollutants was associated with SDB parameters among patients with OSA, PM₁₀ and O₃ might play the dominant roles.

Association of traffic air pollution with severity of obstructive sleep apnea in urban areas of Northern Taiwan: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Although recent studies have indicated an association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and air pollution, they have reported inconsistent results. Moreover, few studies investigated the effects of short-term air pollution exposure.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the health effects of short- and long-term exposure to traffic air pollution on mild OSA in Taipei.

METHODS

We collected participants' data from Taipei Sleep Center and air pollution data from Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. A spatiotemporal model was used to estimate the individual exposure level. Generalized linear models were used to assess the percent change of overall apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), AHI in rapid eye movement period (AHI-REM), AHI in non-REM (AHI-NREM), and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) associated with an interquartile (IQR) increase in personal pollution exposure. A generalized logistic model was used to estimate the ORs of different severities of OSA compared with the reference group.

RESULTS

In the patients with AHI of <15, both short- and long-term exposure to NO₂ were significantly associated with AHI and ODI increases: an IQR increase in 2-year mean NO₂ increased 7.3% of AHI and 8.4% of ODI; these values were the highest among all exposure windows. The effects of NO₂ on AHI increase were stronger in the men and younger patients. Moreover, the association between AHI and NO₂ in the patients with AHI of <15 was mediated by the REM stage. NO₂ exposure was associated with an increased risk of mild OSA that reached up to 24.8% per IQR increase in NO₂ averaged over 2 years. PM_2.5 exerted no effects on AHI, but an IQR increase in 1-year and 2-year mean PM_2.5 was associated with 6.8% and 8.8% increases in ODI, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Both short- and long-term exposure to traffic air pollution were associated with the risk of mild OSA, which was modified by REM stage.

The Need for Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Research to Understand and Intervene on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) disorder, affects at least 25 million adults in the United States and is associated with increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Racial/ethnic minorities have a disproportionate burden of OSA along with the health sequelae associated with this condition. Despite supporting evidence of racial/ethnic disparities, few studies have investigated SDB including OSA among minoritized racial/ethnic groups. In this scoping review of the literature, the authors summarize current findings related to racial/ethnic disparities in OSA, identified social and environmental determinants of health, treatment inequities, and promising evidence-based interventions and conclude with future research directions.

Association of obstructive sleep apnea with all-cause readmissions after hospitalization for asthma exacerbation in adults aged 18-54 years: a population-based study, 2010-2013

OBJECTIVE

To investigate associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and readmission risk after hospitalization for asthma exacerbation.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study using State Inpatient Databases from seven U.S. states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, and Utah) from 2010 to 2013. We identified all adults (aged 18-54 years) hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. The outcome measure was all-cause readmissions within one year after hospitalization for asthma exacerbation. To determine associations between OSA and readmission risk, we constructed negative binomial regression models estimating the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for readmissions and Cox proportional hazards models estimating hazard rate (HR) for the time-to-first readmission.

RESULTS

Among 65,731 patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, 6,549 (10.0%) had OSA. Overall, OSA was associated with significantly higher incident rate of all cause readmission (1.36 vs. 0.85 readmissions per person-year; unadjusted IRR 1.60; 95%CI 1.54-1.66). Additionally, OSA was associated with higher incident rates of readmissions for five major diseases-asthma (IRR 1.21; 95%CI 1.15-1.27), COPD (IRR 2.03; 95%CI 1.88-2.19), respiratory failure (IRR 3.04; 95%CI 2.76-3.34), pneumonia (IRR 1.67; 95%CI 1.49-1.88), and congestive heart failure (IRR 3.78; 95%CI 3.36-4.24), compared to non-OSA. The Cox model demonstrated that patients with OSA had significantly higher rates for all-cause readmission compared to those without OSA (HR 1.56; 95% CI 1.50-1.62). These associations remained significant after adjustment for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed association of OSA with a higher risk of readmissions after hospitalization for asthma exacerbation underscores the importance of identifying coexistent OSA in this population and optimizing both OSA and asthma management.

Oxidative Stress Markers among Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic respiratory disorder, which can be present in up to 50% of the population, depending on the country. OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways with consistent movement of the respiratory musculature during sleep. Apneas and hypopneas can lead to a decrease in oxygen saturation, an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood, and subsequent arousals and sleep fragmentation caused by repetitive activation of the central nervous system. As a consequence, intermittent hypoxemia and consequent reoxygenation result in the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to systematic oxidative stress, which is postulated to be a key mechanism of endothelial dysfunction and increased risk for cardiovascular disorders in patients with OSA. In this review, various biomarkers of oxidative stress, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, superoxide dismutase, cell-free DNA, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, advanced oxidation protein products, lipid peroxidation products, receptor for advanced glycation end-products, and thioredoxin are discussed. Biomarkers of oxidative stress have the potential to be used to assess disease severity and treatment response. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is one of the most common noninvasive treatments for OSA; it keeps the upper airways open during sleep. This reduces episodes of intermittent hypoxia, reoxygenation, and arousal at night. CPAP has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and decrease oxidative stress. The administration of certain compounds, like vitamins A, C, and E as well as N-acetylcysteine and allopurinol, can decrease oxidative stress markers. However, their role in the treatment of OSA remains unclear.

Hematological Parameters Characteristics in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Obesity

Objective

To investigate the possible correlation between obesity and hematological parameters in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

A total of 460 children was initially included in our study, which were divided into children with OSA and children without OSA. Multiple analysis was performed for obesity by adjusting confounding factors such as age and gender in 460 children. Further, to minimize the influence of confounding factors and selective bias, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in children with OSA. Hematological parameters such as inflammatory and coagulable parameters were compared between the normal weight children with OSA and the obese children with OSA following PSM.

Results

OSA (OR = 3.061; P<0.001; 95% CI, 1.772–5.288) represented an independent risk factor for obesity. Besides, the obese children with OSA had higher levels of white blood cell (WBC) (P<0.001), neutrophil (NEUT) (P<0.001), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P=0.006), fibrinogen (FIB) (P=0.033), while had a lower level of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (P=0.048). No significant differences were observed in other hematological parameters. In linear regression, the results indicated that the levels of WBC (R² = 0.123, Beta = 0.289, P<0.001), NEUT (R² = 0.124, Beta = 0.282, P<0.001), NLR (R² = 0.105, Beta = 0.184, P=0.026) and FIB (R² = 0.086, Beta = 0.246, P=0.003) were positively correlated with BMI, while the level of APTT (R² = 0.057, Beta = −0.171, P=0.044) was significantly negatively correlated with BMI.

Conclusion

OSA was an independent risk factor contributing to obesity. WBC, NEUT, NLR, FIB and APTT are correlated with obesity in children with OSA (aged from 2 to 14 years). These indicators could be used to estimate the status of inflammation and hypercoagulation in the obese children with OSA.

The Converging Pathologies of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Atrial Arrhythmias

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in the United States (US). Along with epidemic rates of obesity, the rate of OSA cases is also on the rise. OSA is associated with multiple chronic health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, stroke, myocardial ischemia, and heart rhythm disturbances. OSA is commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Several reports indicate that effective treatment of OSA can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF). CPAP therapy helps to maintain sinus rhythm after interventions such as electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation in patients with AF. However, more data is required to establish a relationship between OSA and other atrial arrhythmias as well to evaluate the effect of CPAP. This review will compile the latest evidence on the pathophysiology, management, and treatment of atrial arrhythmias associated with OSA.

The Association between Air Pollution and Sleep Duration: A Cohort Study of Freshmen at a University in Beijing, China

Background: Rising levels of air pollution in Beijing, China have become a serious environmental issue affecting human health, and young adults are experiencing high rates of insufficient sleep duration or a lack of sleep. Gaps in previous research remain regarding the relationship between air pollution and sleep duration among young adults. The purpose of this study is to assess the associations between air pollution and sleep duration among college students living in Beijing, China. Methods: We conducted follow-up health surveys on 16,889 freshman students enrolled at Tsinghua University over a five-year study period (2013–2018). Sleep duration was measured using the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI), which has been validated in China to measure sleep duration. Corresponding levels of the average hourly air quality index (AQI), PM_2.5 (µg/m³), PM₁₀ (µg/m³), and NO₂ (µg/m³) were gathered from data provided by the Beijing Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau in a closed site at Tsinghua University. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models were used to analyze the data. Results: One standard deviation increase in air pollution concentration in AQI, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂ was associated with a reduction in daily hours of sleep by 0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.63, 0.73), 0.55 (95% CI = 0.51, 0.59), 0.70 (95% CI = 0.64, 0.76), and 0.51 (95% CI = 0.47, 0.54), respectively. Conclusions: Air pollution was associated with a reduction in sleep duration among freshman students living in Beijing, China. Replication of this study is warranted among various populations within China.

Managing comorbid conditions in severe asthma

Asthma care has increasingly focused on personalised management for severe asthma, and recognition of the role and importance of comorbid conditions has increased. Severe asthma can be crippling; associated comorbid conditions often play a key role in the significant disease morbidity and frequently contribute to a severe and difficult-to-treat asthma phenotype. Comorbid conditions can be broadly grouped as being either airway-related or airway-unrelated. Airway-related comorbid conditions with the greatest impact are allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, vocal cord dysfunction, lung fungal sensitisation and underlying structural lung disease. The most important airway-unrelated comorbid conditions are obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and anxiety and depression. A diagnostic and management algorithm for comorbid conditions in severe asthma is outlined. It concentrates initially on the group with common comorbid conditions that can be managed in primary care. If asthma remains troublesome, emphasis can shift to identifying uncommon and more complex factors. The algorithm allows for personalised diagnostic and management pathways to be implemented. Personalised diagnosis and management of comorbid conditions are essential to achieving effective and improved outcomes for patients with severe asthma.

The association of hemocyte profile and obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND

The hemocyte profile is one of the most frequently requested clinical laboratory tests. However, the analysis of blood cell indexes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients in previous studies was not comprehensive. And, this study aimed to fully analyze the blood routine in OSA patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 1087 male patients, who were admitted to the sleep center of Nanfang Hospital from May 2013 to February 2018. According to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), patients were divided into four groups: control group (AHI < 5, n = 135), mild OSA (5 ≦ AHI < 15, n = 185), moderate OSA (15 ≦ AHI < 30, n = 171), and severe OSA (AHI ≧ 30, n = 596). Data collected included sleep parameters, complete blood routine, body mass index (BMI), age, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

In our study, leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, MPV, and PDW-SD were statistically significant among the four groups based on AHI (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were found in MCV, RDW-SD, N/L, and P/L ratio (P > 0.05). Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and MPV were significantly correlated with AHI. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that hematocrit (β = 73.254, P = 0.001), neutrophils (β = 1.414, P = 0.012), and lymphocytes (β = 4.228, P < 0.001) were independently associated with AHI.

CONCLUSION

Neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hematocrit were independently associated with OSA severity. And combining these three blood cell indicators could contribute to the diagnosis of OSA.

Comorbid "treatable traits" in difficult asthma: Current evidence and clinical evaluation

The care of patients with difficult-to-control asthma ("difficult asthma") is challenging and costly. Despite high-intensity asthma treatment, these patients experience poor asthma control and face the greatest risk of asthma morbidity and mortality. Poor asthma control is often driven by severe asthma biology, which has appropriately been the focus of intense research and phenotype-driven therapies. However, it is increasingly apparent that extra-pulmonary comorbidities also contribute substantially to poor asthma control and a heightened disease burden. These comorbidities have been proposed as "treatable traits" in chronic airways disease, adding impetus to their evaluation and management in difficult asthma. In this review, eight major asthma-related comorbidities are discussed: rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnoea, vocal cord dysfunction, obesity, dysfunctional breathing and anxiety/depression. We describe the prevalence, impact and treatment effects of these comorbidities in the difficult asthma population, emphasizing gaps in the current literature. We examine the associations between individual comorbidities and highlight the potential for comorbidity clusters to exert combined effects on asthma outcomes. We conclude by outlining a pragmatic clinical approach to assess comorbidities in difficult asthma.

Environmental Determinants of Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Disorders: Implications for Population Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sleep is important for overall health and well-being. Insufficient sleep and sleep disorders are highly prevalent among adults and children and therefore a public health burden, particularly because poor sleep is associated with adverse health outcomes. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that environmental factors at the household- and neighborhood-level can alter healthy sleep. This paper will (1) review recent literature on the environmental determinants of sleep among adults as well as children and adolescents; and (2) discuss the opportunities and challenges for advancing research on the environment and sleep.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiologic research has shown that social features of environments, family, social cohesion, safety, noise, and neighborhood disorder can shape and/or impact sleep patterns; and physical features such as light, noise, traffic, pollution, and walkability can also influence sleep and is related to sleep disorders among adults and children. Prior research has mainly measured one aspect of the environment, relied on self-reported sleep, which does not correlate well with objective measures, and investigated cross-sectional associations. Although most studies are conducted among non-Hispanic white populations, there is growing evidence that indicates that minority populations are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the environment on insufficient sleep and sleep disorders.

SUMMARY

There is clear evidence that environmental factors are associated with insufficient sleep and sleep disorders. However, more research is warranted to evaluate how and which environmental factors contribute to sleep health. Interventions that target changes in the environment to promote healthy sleep should be developed, tested, and evaluated as a possible pathway for ameliorating sleep health disparities and subsequently health disparities.

Effects of Bedroom Environmental Conditions on the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Epidemiological associations have demonstrated the effects of long-term air pollution to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) through a physiological mechanism linking particulate matter exposure to OSA. This study aimed to determine the relationship between bedroom environmental conditions, OSA severity, and sleep quality.

METHODS

Sixty-three participants were enrolled for an overnight polysomnography; OSA was diagnosed between May to August 2016. Personal characteristics and sleep quality were obtained by a face-to-face interview. Bedroom environments, including data on particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM₁₀), temperature, and relative humidity, were collected by personal air sampling and a HOBO tempt/RH data logger.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight percent of the participants experienced poor sleep. An elevation in 1-year mean PM₁₀ concentration was significantly associated with an increase in apnea-hypopnea index (beta = 1.04, P = .021) and respiratory disturbance index (beta = 1.07, P = .013). An increase of bedroom temperature during sleep was significantly associated with poorer sleep quality (adjusted odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.10, P = .044). Associations between PM₁₀ concentration and respiratory disturbance index were observed in the dry season (beta = 0.59, P = .040) but not in the wet season (beta = 0.39, P = .215). PM₁₀ was not associated with subjective sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevation of PM₁₀ concentration is significantly associated with increased OSA severity. Our findings suggest that reduction in exposure to particulate matter and suitable bedroom environments may lessen the severity of OSA and promote good sleep.

Alterations of IGF-1, complement C3 and superoxide dismutase in patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

AIM

To evaluate various biomarkers of metabolism, immunity and inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

MATERIALS & METHODS

After overnight polysomnography, blood was collected from 292 OSAHS patients or healthy volunteers. Serum content of inflammatory, immune, metabolic biomarkers were investigated. In addition, the effects of 1-month continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were studied in moderate/severe OSAHS.

RESULTS

C3, serum total complement activity, superoxide dismutase, uric acid were significantly higher in moderate/severe OSAHS than that in no/mild OSAHS. In contrast, IGF-1 in moderate/severe OSAHS was lower than it in no/mild OSAHS, which was negative correlated with apnea-hypopnea index. Moreover, CPAP significantly decreased C3, meanwhile elevated IGF-1.

CONCLUSION

C3, serum total complement activity and superoxide dismutase were higher in moderate/severe OSAHS, while IGF-1 decreased. Elevated C3 and reduced IGF-1 in moderate/severe OSAHS may be reversed by CPAP.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio decreases in obstructive sleep apnea treated with mandibular advancement devices

PURPOSE

Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with chronic inflammation triggered by nocturnal hypoxemia. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of subclinical systemic inflammation. We hypothesize that NLR levels would improve as chronic inflammation diminishes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients treated with mandibular advancement devices (MADs).

METHODS

We studied patients with OSA who were treated with MAD as a first-line treatment or because they could not tolerate CPAP. We obtained pre-treatment and post-treatment complete blood counts. NLR was calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes obtained from the CBCs. Patients with other conditions known to affect NLR were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

We compared the values of NLR and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) before and after treatment with MAD in 22 patients who met inclusion criteria and completed the study protocol. There was a significant difference in NLR before and after treatment (p = 0.01). There was also a significant difference in the 3% ODI and 4% ODI before and after treatment with MAD (p = 0.014, 0.007), respectively. A subgroup analysis compared NLR in two groups of patients, the optimally treated and suboptimally treated. There was a significant decrease in the NLR in the optimally treated group (n = 10) (p < 0.01), whereas it did not change in the suboptimally treated group (n = 12) (p = 0.349).

CONCLUSION

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be useful in documenting improvement in inflammation for OSA patients treated with mandibular advancement devices. Our results specifically suggest that the NLR values are associated with the decrease in the ODI.

Lifestyle and Occupational Stress: A Potential Risk Factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Nonobese Male Subjects

PURPOSE

To record the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in nonobese male subjects and investigate the coexistence of lifestyle stress, sleep deprivation, and upper airway inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

552 patients were assessed during a survey of banks, government and corporate offices, recruitment agencies, and schools between January 2012 and January 2016. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria designed for this study, the number of patients tapered down to 120 patients who underwent diagnostic tests, viz. polysomnography, chemiluminiscence immunoassay, nephelometry, and upper airway endoscopy. This revealed the presence of OSA coexistent with elevated serum cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), and upper airway inflammation.

RESULTS

Polysomnography showed that 57 of 120 patients suffered from OSA. Objective evaluation of these patients exposed an undercurrent of lifestyle stress in 39 patients. CRP and serum cortisol were found to be significantly high (1.60 ± 0.52 and 7.20 ± 0.76 μg/dL, respectively) in 30 patients. Endoscopy revealed 18 patients with moderate, 7 with severe, and 5 with no upper airway inflammation.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrated that OSA was found to be prevalent in the cohort of nonobese male patients studied. Coexistence of lifestyle stress, sleep deprivation, and upper airway inflammation was revealed.

The short-term associations of weather and air pollution with emergency ambulance calls for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

A circadian variation in the cardiovascular parameters has been detected. It is plausible that the influence of the environment varies during different periods of the day. We investigated the association between daily emergency ambulance calls (EC) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) that occurred during the time intervals of 8:00-13:59, 14:00-21:59, and 22:00-7:59, and weather conditions and exposure to CO and PM₁₀. We used Poisson regression to explore the association between the risk of EC for AF and environmental variables, adjusting for seasonal variation. Before noon, the risk was associated with an IQR (0.333 mg/m³) increase in CO at lag 2-6 days above the median (RR = 1.15, P = 0.002); a protective impact of CO on previous day was observed (RR = 0.91, P = 0.018). During 14:00-21:59, a negative effect of air temperature below 1.9 °C (lag 2-3 days) was detected (per 10 °C decrease: RR = 1.17, P = 0.044). At night, the elevated risk was associated with wind speed above the median (lag 2-4 days) (per 1-kt increase: RR = 1.07, P = 0.001) and with PM₁₀ at lag 2-5 days below the median (per IQR (7.31 μg/m³) increase: RR = 1.21, P = 0.002). Individuals over 65 years of age were more sensitive to air pollution, especially at night (CO lag 2-3 days < median, per IQR (0.12 mg/m³) increase: RR = 1.14, P = 0.045; PM₁₀ lag 2-5 days < median, per IQR increase: RR = 1.32, P = 0.001). The associations of air pollution and other environmental variables with acute events may be analyzed depending on the time of the event.

Impact of self-reported symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma on sleep disordered breathing and sleep disturbances in the elderly with polysomnography study

BACKGROUND

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep disturbances have been reported to be associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma. However, population-based studies of this issue in the elderly are rare.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of self-reported rhinitis and asthma on sleep apnea and sleep quality using polysomnography in an elderly Korean population.

METHODS

A total of 348 elderly subjects who underwent one-night polysomnography study among a randomly selected sample were enrolled. Study subjects underwent anthropometric and clinical evaluations. Simultaneously, the prevalence and co-morbid status of asthma and allergic rhinitis, and subjective sleep quality were evaluated using a self-reported questionnaire.

RESULTS

Ever-diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was significantly more prevalent in subjects with SDB compared with those without SDB. Subjects with an ever-diagnosis of allergic rhinitis showed a higher O2 desaturation index and mean apnea duration. Indices regarding sleep efficiency were affected in subjects with a recent treatment of allergic rhinitis or asthma. Waking after sleep onset was longer and sleep efficiency was lower in subjects who had received allergic rhinitis treatment within the past 12 months. Subjects who had received asthma treatment within the past 12 months showed significantly lower sleep efficiency than others.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that a history of allergic rhinitis is associated with increased risk of SDB in the elderly. Sleep disturbance and impaired sleep efficiency were found in the subjects who had received recent treatment of allergic rhinitis or asthma. Physicians should be aware of the high risk of sleep disorders in older patients with respiratory allergic diseases.

The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio reflects the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and concurrent hypertension

Background

Chronic intermittent hypoxia, platelet activation and inflammation all play roles in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a new biomarker showing systemic inflammation and platelet distribution width (PDW) as an indicator of platelet activation to the severity of OSAS.

Methods

A total of 290 patients suspected with OSAS who underwent a full night of polysomnography were included. The patients were placed into 4 separate groups according to their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores; the control group (AHI <5), mild OSAS group (AHI 5–15), moderate OSAS group (AHI 16–30), and severe OSAS group (AHI >30). CVD risk was defined by the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, and dyslipidemia.

Results

Higher AHI groups were significantly correlated with increasing age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and male sex. PLR and PDW were also significantly associated with AHI (r = 0.417 for PLR and r = 0.227 for PDW, all p-values < 0.001) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (r = 0.160 for PLR and r = 0.189 for PDW, all p-values <0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that AHI ≥9.2 (adjusted odds ratios [OR] 5.03, 95 % confidential interval (CI) = 1.67-15.2, p = 0.004) and PLR ≥159 (adjusted OR 2.81, 95 % CI = 1.34-5.91, p = 0.006) were independently associated with the presence of hypertension.

Conclusion

PLR and PDW are associated with OSAS severity. PLR may also be useful as a systemic biomarker for the concurrent hypertension in OSAS patients.

Overlap syndrome--Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiple phenotypes. There is still a major gap in the understanding of its complex causality. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition that has been implicated as a risk factor for asthma exacerbations.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to characterize patients with the diagnosis of asthma and suspected OSA; identify the presence of OSA and review, on the current literature, the association between asthma and OSA, as an overlap syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors present a retrospective study that included patients diagnosed with asthma that underwent sleep study in a 3 year period. Demographic, clinical data, body mass index (BMI), sleep study parameters and treatments were analyzed.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 47 patients. The majority of population was females (68%) and the mean age was 55.65 ± 13.04 years. The most common nighttime symptom was snoring (93.6%). Regarding BMI, values above the normal limit were observed in 89.36% of the patients. 68% underwent polysomnography and the others cardiorespiratory polygraphy. In 57.4% of the patients, OSA was confirmed with a higher prevalence in males (73.3%) compared to females (50%). The therapeutic approach in 81.8% of these patients was home ventilation therapy.

CONCLUSION

The combination of asthma and OSA has become increasingly more frequent. In the described study, the prevalence of OSA was 57.4%, value that is in fact higher than in general population. After the therapeutic approach, all patients referred improvement of symptoms. It is therefore essential that OSA is investigated in patients with asthma when there is poor control of symptoms, in order to achieve a better control.

Investigation of the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Objective:

To investigate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and sleep apnoea severity relationship.

Methods:

Patients (n= 178) were assigned to five groups according to apnoea–hypopnea indices and continuous positive airway pressure use. White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values were compared for each group.

Results:

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values of severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients (group 4) were significantly higher than those of: control patients (group 1), mild obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients (group 2) and patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure (group 5) (p= 0.008,p= 0.008 andp= 0.003). Minimum oxygen saturation values of group 4 were significantly lower than those of groups 1, 2 and 5 (p= 0.0005,p= 0.011 andp= 0.001). There was a positive correlation between apnoea–hypopnea index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (r = 0.758,p= 0.034), and a negative correlation between apnoea–hypopnea index and minimum oxygen saturation (r = −0.179,p= 0.012).

Conclusion:

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be used to determine disease severity, complementing polysomnography.

Directed preconception health programs and interventions for improving pregnancy outcomes for women who are overweight or obese

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m(2) and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2,) respectively are increasingly common among women of reproductive age. Overweight and obesity are known to be associated with many adverse health conditions in the preconception period, during pregnancy and during the labour and postpartum period. There are no current guidelines to suggest which preconception health programs and interventions are of benefit to these women and their infants. It is important to evaluate the available evidence to establish which preconception interventions are of value to this population of women.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of preconception health programs and interventions for improving pregnancy outcomes in overweight and obese women.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 December 2014) and reference lists of retrieved studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (including those using a cluster-randomised design), comparing health programs and interventions with routine care in women of reproductive age and a BMI greater then or equal to 25 kg/m(2). Studies published in abstract form only, were not eligible for inclusion. Quasi-randomised trials or randomised trials using a cross-over design were not eligible for inclusion in this review. The intervention in such studies would involve an assessment of preconception health and lead to an individualised preconception program addressing any areas of concern for that particular woman.Preconception interventions could involve any or all of: provision of specific information, screening for and treating obesity-related health problems, customised or general dietary and exercise advice, medical or surgical interventions. Medical interventions may include treatment of pre-existing hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance or sleep apnoea. Surgical interventions may include interventions such as bariatric surgery. The comparator was prespecified to be standard preconception advice or no advice/interventions.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We identified no studies that met the inclusion criteria for this review. The search identified one study (published in four trial reports) which was independently assessed by two review authors and subsequently excluded.

MAIN RESULTS

There are no included trials.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no randomised controlled trials that assessed the effect of preconception health programs and interventions in overweight and obese women with the aim of improving pregnancy outcomes. Until the effectiveness of preconception health programs and interventions can be established, no practice recommendations can be made. Further research is required in this area.

Association of Sleep Apnea and Snoring With Incident Atrial Fibrillation in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

The association between sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been examined in a multiethnic adult population in prospective community-based studies. We prospectively (2000-2011) investigated the associations of physician-diagnosed sleep apnea (PDSA), which is considered more severe sleep apnea, and self-reported habitual snoring without PDSA (HS), a surrogate for mild sleep apnea, with incident AF in white, black, and Hispanic participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline (2000-2002). Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations, with adjustment for socioeconomic status, traditional vascular disease risk factors, race/ethnicity, body mass index, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, alcohol intake, and lipid-lowering therapy. Out of 4,395 respondents to a sleep questionnaire administered in MESA, 181 reported PDSA, 1,086 reported HS, and 3,128 reported neither HS nor PDSA (unaffected). Over an average 8.5-year follow-up period, 212 AF events were identified. As compared with unaffected participants, PDSA was associated with incident AF in the multivariable analysis, but HS was not (PDSA: hazard ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 3.02; HS: hazard ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 0.72, 1.44). PDSA, a marker of more severe sleep apnea, was associated with higher risk of incident AF in this analysis of MESA data.

Reduced systemic levels of IL-10 are associated with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and insulin resistance in morbidly obese humans

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been related to elevation of inflammatory cytokines and development of insulin resistance in morbidly obese (MO) subjects. However, it is still unclear whether the systemic concentration of anti-inflammatory mediators is also affected in MO subjects directly related to the severity of OSA and level of insulin resistance. Normal weight and MO subjects were subjected to overnight polysomnography in order to establish the severity of OSA, according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Blood samples were obtained for estimation of total cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin, glucose, insulin resistance, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 12 (IL12), and interleukin 10 (IL-10). Serum levels of IL-10 were significantly lower in MO subjects with OSA than in MO and control individuals without OSA. Besides being inversely associated with serum TNF-α and IL-12, decreased IL-10 levels were significantly related to increased AHI, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. Serum IL-10 is significantly reduced in morbidly obese subjects with severe OSA while also showing a clear relationship with a state of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance probably regardless of obesity in the present sample. It may be of potential clinical interest to identify the stimulatory mechanisms of IL-10 in obese individuals with OSA.

Evaluation of the association of sleep apnea-related systemic inflammation with CRP, ESR, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by cyclic episodes of hypoxemia and reoxygenation. It has been suggested that OSAS is associated with chronic inflammation within the microvasculature. This low-grade inflammation may play a role in the pathophysiology of OSAS-related comorbidities. Evaluation of the inflammatory markers may predict the degree of the systemic inflammation and this may be a prognostic factor for future adverse events such as cardiovascular risks. Proinflammatory cytokines have been extensively studied in sleep-disordered breathing. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a recently described indicator of systemic inflammation, but it has not been studied in OSAS patients. In this study we aimed to evaluate the easily measurable parameters of systemic inflammation in these patients. We conducted this study to examine the association among OSAS and C- reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Material/Methods

OSAS patients who underwent overnight polysomnography were studied retrospectively. They were divided into 4 groups: control, mild, moderate, and severe OSAS patients. Blood test results and inflammatory markers were compared between the groups. One-way ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis H test were used for statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 147 patients were included in the study. No differences in evaluated inflammatory markers were observed among the 4 groups.

Conclusions

Evaluation of the OSAS-related systemic inflammation is not likely to be possible by CRP, ESR, or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio measurements. These markers do not seem to be associated with the degree of the upper airway obstruction.

Obstructive sleep apnea and asthma

Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), are common in asthma patients and have been associated with asthma severity. It is known that asthma symptoms tend to be more severe at night and that asthma-related deaths are most likely to occur during the night or early morning. Nocturnal symptoms occur in 60-74% of asthma patients and are markers of inadequate control of the disease. Various pathophysiological mechanisms are related to the worsening of asthma symptoms, OSAS being one of the most important factors. In patients with asthma, OSAS should be investigated whenever there is inadequate control of symptoms of nocturnal asthma despite the treatment recommended by guidelines having been administered. There is evidence in the literature that the use of continuous positive airway pressure contributes to asthma control in asthma patients with obstructive sleep apnea and uncontrolled asthma.

Chronic sleep curtailment and adiposity

OBJECTIVES

To examine the extent to which chronic sleep curtailment from infancy to mid-childhood is associated with total and central adiposity.

METHODS

We studied 1046 children participating in a prospective cohort study. At age 6 months and yearly from age 1 to 7 years, mothers reported their children's sleep duration in a usual 24-hour period. The main exposure was a sleep curtailment score from age 6 months to 7 years. The range of the total score was 0 to 13, where 0 indicated the maximal sleep curtailment and 13 indicated never having curtailed sleep. Outcomes in mid-childhood were BMI z score, dual X-ray absorptiometry total and trunk fat mass index (kg/m(2)), and waist and hip circumferences (cm).

RESULTS

The mean (SD) sleep score was 10.2 (2.7); 4.4% scored a 0 to 4, indicating multiple exposures to sleep curtailment between age 6 months to 7 years, 12.3% scored 5 to 7, 14.1% scored 8 to 9, 28.8% scored 10 to 11, and 40.3% scored 12 to 13. In multivariable models, children who had a sleep score of 0 to 4 had a BMI z score that was 0.48 U (95% confidence interval, 0.13 to 0.83) higher than those who had a sleep score of 12 to 13. We observed similar associations of higher total and trunk fat mass index and waist and hip circumferences, and higher odds of obesity (odds ratio, 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.99 to 6.97) among children who had a score of 0 to 4 vs 12 to 13.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic sleep curtailment from infancy to school age was associated with higher overall and central adiposity in mid-childhood.

Sleep-disordered breathing in Hispanic/Latino individuals of diverse backgrounds. The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

RATIONALE

Hispanic/Latino populations have a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and may be at risk for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). An understanding of SDB among these populations is needed given evidence that SDB increases cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVES

To quantify SDB prevalence in the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population and its association with symptoms, risk factors, diabetes, and hypertension; and to explore variation by sex and Hispanic/Latino background.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis from the baseline examination of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was derived from standardized sleep tests; diabetes and hypertension were based on measurement and history. The sample of 14,440 individuals had an age-adjusted prevalence of minimal SDB (AHI ≥ 5), moderate SDB (AHI ≥ 15), and severe SDB (AHI ≥ 30) of 25.8, 9.8, and 3.9%, respectively. Only 1.3% of participants reported a sleep apnea diagnosis. Moderate SDB was associated with being male (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-3.1), obese (16.8; 11.6-24.4), and older. SDB was associated with an increased adjusted odds of impaired glucose tolerance (1.7; 1.3-2.1), diabetes (2.3; 1.8-2.9), and hypertension. The association with hypertension varied across background groups with the strongest associations among individuals of Puerto Rican and Central American background.

CONCLUSIONS

SDB is prevalent in U.S. Latinos but rarely associated with a clinical diagnosis. Associations with diabetes and hypertension suggest a large burden of disease may be attributed to untreated SDB, supporting the development and evaluation of culturally relevant detection and treatment approaches.

Coexisting chronic conditions associated with mortality and morbidity in adult patients with asthma

OBJECTIVE

Many asthma patients suffer from chronic conditions other than asthma. We investigated the specific contribution of common comorbidities on mortality and morbidity in adult asthma.

METHODS

In an observational study of adults with incident asthma identified between 1999 and 2003 using National Veterans Affairs and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services encounter databases (n = 25 975, follow-up 3.0 ± 1.7 years), association between 13 most prevalent comorbidities (hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, mental disorders, substance/drug abuse, enlarged prostate, depression, cancer, alcoholism, HIV and heart failure) and four conditions previously associated with asthma (sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rhinitis and sinusitis) and mortality, hospitalizations and asthma exacerbations were assessed using multivariate regression analyses adjusted for other clinically important covariates.

RESULTS

HIV followed by alcoholism and mental disorders among 18-45-years old, and heart failure, diabetes, IHD and cancer among those ≥ 65 years old were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Many conditions were associated with increased risk for all-cause hospitalizations, but the increased risk was consistent across all ages for mental disorders. For asthma exacerbations, mental disorder followed by substance abuse and IHD were associated with increased risk among those 18-45 years old, and chronic sinusitis, mental disorder and IHD among those ≥ 65-years old. GERD was associated with decreased risk for asthma exacerbation in all ages.

CONCLUSIONS

Many comorbidities are associated with poor outcome in adult asthmatics and their effect differs by age. Mental disorders are associated with increased risk of mortality and morbidity across ages.

Salivary markers of oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with continuous positive airway pressure

PURPOSE

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by elevated oxidative stress. Measurement of oxidative stress in saliva seems to be promising in long-term treatment monitoring of OSAS patients. In this study, our aim was to investigate whether short-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment would influence oxidative stress in saliva.

METHODS

Patients with diagnosed OSAS (16 women, 28 men) underwent polysomnography during the first night and CPAP treatment during the second night. Saliva samples were taken in the evening and morning on both days. Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status were analyzed in saliva.

RESULTS

Evening concentrations of the salivary thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (p < 0.001), advanced glycation end-products (p < 0.001), and advanced oxidation protein products (p < 0.01) were significantly lower than morning values during the diagnostic night. However, salivary concentrations of none of the oxidative stress markers were significantly influenced by the CPAP treatment. No changes in salivary antioxidant status after CPAP therapy were found.

CONCLUSION

Salivary markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status do not change significantly after one night treatment with CPAP. On the contrary, after 1 month with CPAP therapy, reduced markers of oxidative stress were reported. Therefore, the future studies should be focused on finding the optimal sampling frequency to clarify the potential of saliva for the monitoring of OSAS treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with reduced quality of life in adult patients with asthma

BACKGROUND

Recent data suggest that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an important contributor to severe uncontrolled asthma.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics, asthma control, and asthma-related quality of life in adult patients with asthma at a high risk for OSA.

METHODS

A total of 217 patients with asthma who visited our tertiary-care clinic were randomly recruited. They completed the Berlin questionnaire, which screens for OSA risk, a quality-of-life questionnaire for adult Korean patients with asthma (QLQAKA), and underwent an asthma control test (ACT). Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), lung function, blood lipid profiles, and body composition were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age was 58.4 ± 15.4, and 91 (41.9%) were male. Eighty-nine subjects (41.0%) were classified as high risk for OSA from the Berlin questionnaire. Patients with a high OSA risk were significantly older, had a higher prevalence of hypertension, higher BMI, non-atopic predisposition, and longer asthma treatment duration in the baseline clinical characteristics. The high OSA risk group had a lower ACT score than the low OSA risk group, but it was not statistically significant (20.9 ± 3.6 vs 21.5 ± 3.3, P = .091). The QLQAKA score was significantly lower in the high OSA risk group compared with the low OSA risk group (64.4 ± 10.9 vs 68.1 ± 11.1, P = .026), especially in the activity-domain (P = .005). The FeNO was not significantly different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Quality of life is significantly decreased in adult patients with asthma with a high risk of OSA. Special consideration is needed for the care and treatment of patients with asthma who have a high risk of OSA.

The investigation of severe asthma to define phenotypes

Severe asthmatics often exhibit poor control despite high doses of inhaled corticosteroids with or without systemic corticosteroids and suffer from persistent symptoms and/or recurrent exacerbations. Five to ten percentage of the asthmatic population falls within this category. Patients with severe asthma are a heterogeneous group and should be investigated to confirm the diagnosis, identify comorbidities, exclude alternative diagnoses, together with an evaluation of treatment adherence and side-effects from medications. Optimization of asthma medications and monitoring the control and pattern of asthma usually takes place over a period of 6 months. In patients with confirmed severe refractory asthma, further evaluation is needed in terms of detailed lung function, of airway and lung structure using high resolution computed tomographic scanning, and of airway inflammatory processes and biomarkers using induced sputum or bronchial biopsies. Patients with severe asthma are best investigated and managed with a multidisciplinary team. Severe asthma consists of different phenotypes that need defining. Investigation of severe asthma should bring into the open the various characteristics of the disease that could point to particular phenotype. Inclusion of investigations based on transcriptomics and proteomics should expand, improve classification and understanding of severe asthma, with the ultimate hope of finding more effective treatments and a step towards personalized medicine.

Lack of effect of sleep apnea on oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate markers of systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in subjects with and without OSAS in order to investigate the most important factors that determine the oxidant–antioxidant status.

Methods

A total of 66 subjects referred to our Sleep laboratory were examined by full polysomnography. Oxidative stress and antioxidant activity were assessed by measurement of the derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and the biological antioxidant capacity (BAP) in blood samples taken in the morning after the sleep study. Known risk factors for oxidative stress, such as age, sex, obesity, smoking, hypelipidemia, and hypertension, were investigated as possible confounding factors.

Results

42 patients with OSAS (Apnea-Hypopnea index >15 events/hour) were compared with 24 controls (AHI<5). The levels of d-ROMS were significantly higher (p = 0.005) in the control group but the levels of antioxidant capacity were significantly lower (p = 0.004) in OSAS patients. The most important factors predicting the variance of oxidative stress were obesity, smoking habit, and sex. Parameters of sleep apnea severity were not associated with oxidative stress. Minimal oxygen desaturation and smoking habit were the most important predicting factors of BAP levels.

Conclusion

Obesity, smoking, and sex are the most important determinants of oxidative stress in OSAS subjects. Sleep apnea might enhance oxidative stress by the reduction of antioxidant capacity of blood due to nocturnal hypoxia.

Brief communication (Original). Sleep-disordered breathing and risk factors in Thailand

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has an important effect on the quality of life. Very few data of OSA are available for Thai persons.

Objective: Investigate the prevalence of high risk to OSA and the relationship between OSA and risk factors in Thai medical students.

Materials and methods: Three hundred seven subjects were recruited from all of the medical students (fourth year to sixth year) the Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand for this cross-sectional study. Data was collected between June and September 2010. The Berlin questionnaire was used to determine risk for OSA. Logistic regression analysis was performed with p-value less than 0.05 for statistical significance.

Results: The prevalence of high risk to OSA was 6.8%. Total mean of sleep duration, bedtime, and wake-time was 6.59 hours. Bedtime of male students was significantly later than female students. The medical students with body mass index (BMI) >23 kilogram/meter2 and with underlying diseases were at high-risk for OSA.

Conclusion: Prevalence of high-risk to OSA of Thai medical students was 6.8%. The medical students with BMI >23 kilogram/meter2 and with underlying diseases were at high risk for OSA but gender, age, academic year, and academic achievement did not relate to OSA.

Intermittent hypoxic episodes in preterm infants: do they matter?

Intermittent hypoxic episodes are typically a consequence of immature respiratory control and remain a troublesome challenge for the neonatologist. Furthermore, their frequency and magnitude are underestimated by clinically employed pulse oximeter settings. In extremely low birth weight infants the incidence of intermittent hypoxia progressively increases over the first 4 weeks of postnatal life, with a subsequent plateau followed by a slow decline beginning at weeks 6-8. Such episodic hypoxia/reoxygenation has the potential to sustain a proinflammatory cascade with resultant multisystem morbidity. This morbidity includes retinopathy of prematurity and impaired growth, as well as possible longer-term cardiorespiratory instability and poor neurodevelopmental outcome. Therapeutic approaches for intermittent hypoxic episodes comprise determination of optimal baseline saturation and careful titration of supplemental inspired oxygen, as well as xanthine therapy to prevent apnea of prematurity. In conclusion, characterization of the pathophysiologic basis for such intermittent hypoxic episodes and their consequences during early life is necessary to provide an evidence-based approach to their management.

An interactive diary for diet management (DAI): a new telemedicine system able to promote body weight reduction, nutritional education, and consumption of fresh local produce

BACKGROUND

The aim of this multicenter, longitudinal, single-arm, pre-post comparison was to test a telemedicine system able to promote body weight reduction, nutritional education, and consumption of fresh local produce.

METHODS

DAI (MeTeDa srl, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy) is a software for mobile phones to support patients following a specific dietetic program. It facilitates the communication between the patient and dietician via short text messages. Overall, three specialized dieticians enrolled 140 consecutive patients with body mass index (BMI) >or=25 kg/m(2) who voluntered to follow a specific diet program to be managed with DAI. At baseline and after 20 weeks, data on body weight, waist circumference, BMI, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, food habits, and physical activity were collected and compared by the Wilcoxon test or the McNemar test.

RESULTS

Overall, 115 individuals (82.1%) completed the follow-up. The mean (95% confidence interval) reduction in body weight was -2.5 (-3.2; -1.8) kg, whereas the reduction in waist circumference was -3.7 (-4.6; -2.9) cm, and that in BMI was 1.0 (-0.7; -1.2) kg/m(2). The software was useful as an educational tool: participants achieving the Mediterranean diet targets increased from 14.4% to 69.8% after 20 weeks. On average, each patient recognized and chose fresh local vegetables eight times per week during the follow-up. Participants regularly communicated with dieticians through short text messages.

CONCLUSIONS

This study allowed the documentation of the efficacy of a new telemedicine system in supporting people who need to lose body weight. The tool was also suitable for a more articulated initiative of "nutritional education" aiming to promote the healthy properties of the Mediterranean diet and the consumption of local produce.