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Graco M, Ruehland WR, Schembri R, Churchward TJ, Saravanan K, Sheers NL, Berlowitz DJ. Prevalence of central sleep apnea in people with tetraplegic spinal cord injury: a retrospective analysis of research and clinical data. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad235. [PMID: 37691432 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Over 80% of people with tetraplegia have sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but whether this is predominantly obstructive or central is unclear. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of central sleep apnea (CSA) in tetraplegia and the contributions of central, obstructive, and hypopnea respiratory events to SDB summary indices in tetraplegia. METHODS Research and clinical data from 606 individuals with tetraplegia and full overnight polysomnography were collated. The proportions of different respiratory event types were calculated; overall and for mild, moderate, and severe disease. The prevalence of Predominant CSA (Central Apnea Index [CAI] ≥ 5 and more central than obstructive apneas) and Any CSA (CAI ≥ 5) was estimated. Prevalence of sleep-related hypoventilation (SRH) was estimated in a clinical sub-cohort. RESULTS Respiratory events were primarily hypopneas (71%), followed by obstructive (23%), central (4%), and mixed apneas (2%). As severity increased, the relative contribution of hypopneas and central apneas decreased, while that of obstructive apneas increased. The prevalence of Predominant CSA and Any CSA were 4.3% (26/606) and 8.4% (51/606) respectively. Being male, on opiates and having a high tetraplegic spinal cord injury were associated with CSA. SRH was identified in 26% (26/113) of the clinical sub-cohort. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest study to characterize SDB in tetraplegia. It provides strong evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is the predominant SDB type; 9-18 times more prevalent than CSA. The prevalence of CSA was estimated to be 4%-8%, significantly lower than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnie Graco
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Warren R Ruehland
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel Schembri
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Thomas J Churchward
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Krisha Saravanan
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicole L Sheers
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David J Berlowitz
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Ruehland WR, Rochford PD, Pierce RJ, Trinder J, Jordan AS, Cori JM, O'Donoghue FJ. Genioglossus muscle responses to resistive loads in severe OSA patients and healthy control subjects. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 127:1586-1598. [PMID: 31647723 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00186.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether there is impairment of genioglossus neuromuscular responses to small negative pressure respiratory stimuli, close to the conscious detection threshold, in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We compared genioglossus electromyogram (EMGgg) responses to midinspiratory resistive loads of varying intensity (≈1.2-6.2 cmH2O·L-1·s), delivered via a nasal mask, between 16 severe OSA and 17 control participants while the subjects were awake and in a seated upright position. We examined the relationship between stimulus intensity and peak EMGgg amplitude in a 200-ms poststimulus window and hypothesized that OSA patients would have an increased activation threshold and reduced sensitivity in the relationship between EMGgg activation and stimulus intensity. There was no significant difference between control and OSA participants in the threshold (P = 0.545) or the sensitivity (P = 0.482) of the EMGgg amplitude vs. stimulus intensity relationship, where change in epiglottic pressure relative to background epiglottic pressure represented stimulus intensity. These results do not support the hypothesis that deficits in neuromuscular response to negative upper airway pressure exist in OSA during wakefulness; however, the results are likely influenced by a counterintuitive and novel genioglossus muscle suppression response observed in a significant proportion of both OSA and healthy control participants. This suppression response may relate to the inhibition seen in inspiratory muscles such as the diaphragm in response to sudden-onset negative pressure, and its presence provides new insight into the upper airway neuromuscular response to the collapsing force of negative pressure.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our study used a novel midinspiratory resistive load stimulus to study upper airway neuromuscular responses to negative pressure during wakefulness in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although no differences were found between OSA and healthy groups, the study uncovered a novel and unexpected suppression of neuromuscular activity in a large proportion of both OSA and healthy participants. The unusual response provides new insight into the upper airway neuromuscular response to the collapsing force of negative pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warren R Ruehland
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine (Austin Health), University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter D Rochford
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert J Pierce
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine (Austin Health), University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Trinder
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amy S Jordan
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer M Cori
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fergal J O'Donoghue
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine (Austin Health), University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
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