Prevalence of overlap syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients without sleep apnea symptoms

Interaction of BMI and respiratory status in obstructive sleep apnea, a cross-sectional COPD study

This cross-sectional study of 136 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) investigated the mechanism underlying overlap syndrome, defined as coexisting COPD and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA was defined as a respiratory event index (REI) ≥ 5 events/h, determined using type-3 portable monitors. The mean REI was 12.8 events/h. Most participants (60.1%) had mild OSA (REI: 5-15 events/h). The REI was positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second (%FEV1) (r = 0.33, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.24, p = 0.005), and fat-free mass index (r = 0.31, p = 0.005), and negatively correlated with residual volume divided by total lung capacity (r = -0.27, p = 0.003). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an optimal BMI cutoff of 21.96 kg/m2 for predicting moderate/severe OSA. A BMI ≥ 21.96 kg/m2 was associated with OSA among participants with %FEV1 ≥ 50%, but not those with %FEV1 < 50%. This study revealed an interaction between airflow limitation and hyperinflation, nutritional status, and OSA.

Risk of diabetes in patients with sleep apnea: comparison of surgery versus CPAP in a long-term follow-up study

This study aimed to obtain a comprehensive view of the risk of developing diabetes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to compare this risk between patients receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy versus upper airway surgery (UAS). We used local and the global-scale federated data research network TriNetX to obtain access to electronic medical records, including those for patients diagnosed with OSA, from health-care organizations (HCOs) worldwide. Using propensity score matching and the score-matched analyses of data for 5 years of follow-up, we found that patients who had undergone UAS had a lower risk of developing diabetes than those who used CPAP (risk ratio 0.415, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.349-0.493). The risk for newly diagnosed diabetes patients showed a similar pattern (hazard ratio 0.382; 95% CI 0.317-0.459). Both therapies seem to protect against diabetes (Risk 0.081 after UAS vs. 0.195 after CPAP). Analysis of the large data sets collected from HCOs in Europe and globally lead us to conclude that, in patients with OSA, UAS can prevent the development of diabetes better than CPAP.

The Overlap Syndrome of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common diseases that strongly impact the quality and length of life. Their coexistence is determined by overlap syndrome (OS). This systematic review aims to define the significance of these comorbidities according to the current state of knowledge. For this systematic review, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane for studies published between 2018 and 26 October 2022, to find original, observational, human studies published in English, where the diagnosis of COPD was according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines and the diagnosis of OSA was based on polysomnography. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment tool for cohort and case-control studies, as well as its modification for cross-sectional studies. Of the 1548 records identified, 38 were eligible and included in this systematic review. The included studies covered a total population of 27,064 participants. This paper summarizes the most important, up-to-date information regarding OS, including the prevalence, meaning of age/gender/body mass index, polysomnography findings, pulmonary function, comorbidities, predicting OSA among COPD patients, and treatment of this syndrome.

Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Associated Comorbidity

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a heterogeneous disease with many physiological implications. OSA is associated with a great diversity of diseases, with which it shares common and very often bidirectional pathophysiological mechanisms, leading to significantly negative implications on morbidity and mortality. In these patients, underdiagnosis of OSA is high. Concerning cardiorespiratory comorbidities, several studies have assessed the usefulness of simplified screening tests for OSA in patients with hypertension, COPD, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, morbid obesity, and in hospitalized elders.The key question is whether there is any benefit in the screening for the existence of OSA in patients with comorbidities. In this regard, there are few studies evaluating the performance of the various diagnostic procedures in patients at high risk for OSA. The purpose of this chapter is to review the existing literature about diagnosis in those diseases with a high risk for OSA, with special reference to artificial intelligence-related methods.

Comparison of invasive intubation and noninvasive mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Objective

The concurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is defined as overlap syndrome (OS), but investigations into predictors of OS in patients with COPD remain limited. Here, potential markers of OS in patients with COPD were investigated, and results of intubation were compared between patients with COPD only or OS.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with COPD who were divided according to OS diagnosis: COPD only (COPD group) or OS (OS group).

Results

Among 206 patients with COPD, 120 were diagnosed with OS. Mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the OS versus COPD group (28.95 ± 2.96 versus 23.84 ± 4.06, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that BMI was associated with OS (area under the curve, 0.835). The rate of invasive intubation within 48 h was lower in the OS versus COPD group (9.2% versus 20.9%, respectively), and the duration of noninvasive ventilation was longer in the OS versus COPD group.

Conclusions

BMI may be a predictor of OS in patients with COPD. The duration of noninvasive ventilation was longer in patients with OS than in patients with COPD alone.

Treatable Traits in COPD - A Proposed Approach

The well-recognized individual heterogeneity within COPD patients has led to a growing interest in greater personalization in the approach of these patients. Thus, the treatable traits strategy has been proposed as a further step towards precision medicine in the management of chronic airway disease, both in stable phase and acute exacerbations. The aim of this paper is to perform a critical review on the treatable traits strategy and propose a guide to approach COPD patients in the light of this new concept. An innovative stepwise approach is proposed - a multidisciplinary model based on two distinct phases, with the potential to be implemented in both primary care and hospital settings. The first phase is the initial and focused assessment of a selected subset of treatable traits, which should be addressed in all COPD patients in both settings (primary care and hospital). As some patients may present with advanced disease at diagnosis or may progress despite this initial treatment requiring a more specialized assessment, they should progress to a second phase, in which a broader approach is recommended. Beyond stable COPD, we explore how the treatable traits strategy may be applied to reduce the risk of future exacerbations and improve the management of COPD exacerbations. Since many treatable traits have already been related to exacerbation risk, the strategy proposed here represents an opportunity to be proactive. Although it still lacks prospective validation, we believe this is the way forward for the future of the COPD approach.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

The conjunction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known as overlap syndrome (OS). The coexistence of these diseases has cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of OSA in COPD patients. One hundred COPD patients (obese and non-obese) performed sleep questionnaires and polysomnograms.

Results

OSA prevalence in COPD was 50% and it increases with increasing disease severity (P < 0.001). The highest prevalence of OSA was found in obese patients with severe COPD; 90.5% of these patients have OSA. In the OSA group, obese patients were found to have significantly higher STOP-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ), Epworth Sleep Scale (ESS), modified medical research council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and oxygen desaturation index (ODI). Both obese and non-obese COPD patients showed significant positive correlations between AHI and smoking index (SI), SBQ, ESS, mMRC, ODI, and neck circumference (NC).

Conclusions

From this study, it can be concluded that moderate and severe COPD patients had a higher diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing. Also, obese-COPD patients are more susceptible to develop OSA.

Trial registration

Name of the registry: Benha University Protocol Record Benha U123, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Prevalence in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases. Trial registration number: NCT04903639. Date of registry: 5/22/2021 (retrospective study).

Impact of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea on the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health burden worldwide. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is characterized by worsening of patients' respiratory symptoms that requires a modification in medication. This event could accelerate disease progression and increase the risk of hospital admissions and mortality. Both insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are prevalent in patients with COPD, and are linked to increased susceptibility to AECOPD. Improper treatment of insomnia may increase the risk of adverse respiratory outcomes for patients with COPD, while effective continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment may reduce the risk of AECOPD and mortality in patients with overlap syndrome. Sleep disorders should be considered in clinical management for COPD.

The risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in overlap syndrome: a meta-analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To undertake a meta-analysis of literature comparing the prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular comorbidities between patients with overlap syndrome (OS) and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

METHODS

Studies about the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease of OS were searched for among several electronic databases from the time of database construction to June 2019. Two independent reviewers performed the process of study screening, quality assessment, and data extraction. Meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs) was carried out by RevMan5.3 under either fixed-effects or random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the robustness of pooled outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 17 articles were included. Compared with COPD/obstructive sleep apnea, OS significantly increased the risk of developing hypertension (OS vs COPD: OR = 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.49, 2.52]; OS vs obstructive sleep apnea: OR = 2.05, 95% CI [1.57, 2.68]) and pulmonary hypertension (OS vs COPD: OR = 2.96, 95% CI [1.30, 6.77]; OS vs obstructive sleep apnea: OR = 5.93, 95% CI [1.84, 18.42]). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of coronary heart disease (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [.67,2.11]) and cerebrovascular disease (OR = 2.43, 95% CI [0.81, 7.31]) between patients with COPD and patients with OS. However, the sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled outcome of the comparison of pulmonary arterial pressure between patients with OS and patients with COPD was not stable.

CONCLUSIONS

OS significantly increased cardiovascular risk including the prevalence of hypertension and pulmonary hypertension. However, since the pooled outcome about pulmonary arterial pressure was not stable, further studies are still required.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome are highly prevalent respiratory conditions. Their coexistence is referred to as the overlap syndrome. They are both related to pulmonary hypertension (PH) development. This study investigated the effects of OSA on PH in patients with COPD and the associated factors.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with stable COPD were recruited for an observational cross-sectional study from September 2016 to May 2018 at Peking University Third Hospital. In total, 106 patients with COPD were enrolled and performed home portable monitoring and echocardiography. OSA was defined by an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥10 events/h. Based on OSA absence or presence, patients were divided into the COPD with OSA and COPD without OSA groups. Factors affecting pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and PH were identified using univariate analysis and logistic regression models.

Results:

In the 106 patients with COPD, the mean age was 69.52 years, 91.5% were men, and the mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) percentage of predicted was 56.15%. Fifty-six (52.8%) patients with COPD were diagnosed with OSA, and 24 (22.6%) patients with COPD were diagnosed as PH. Compared with COPD without OSA group, the median PAP in COPD with severe OSA group increased by 5 mmHg (36.00 [26.00–50.00] mmHg vs. 31.00 [24.00–34.00] mmHg, P = 0.036). COPD with percent of night-time spent with oxygen saturation below 90% (T90) > 10% group had higher PAP than COPD with T90 ≤ 1% group (36.00 [29.00–50.00)] mmHg vs. 29.00 [25.50–34.00] mmHg, F = 7.889, P = 0.007). Univariate analysis revealed age, FEV₁% predicted, T90, and Charlson index had statistically significant effects on PH. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant and independent effect of both FEV₁% predicted (odds ratio [OR] = 3.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–10.46; P = 0.028) and AHI (OR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.09–19.35; P = 0.034) on PH.

Conclusions:

Patients with COPD with OSA are more susceptible to PH, which is associated with declining lung function and increased severity of OSA. Thus, nocturnal hypoxemia and OSA in elderly patients with COPD should be identified and treated.

Comorbid obstructive sleep apnoea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the risk of cardiovascular disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome are both highly prevalent, affecting at least 10% of the general adult population, and each has been independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The presence of both disorders together, commonly referred to as the overlap syndrome, is also highly prevalent, although various clinical and pathophysiological factors associated with COPD may increase or decrease the likelihood of OSA. Lung hyperinflation reduces the likelihood of obstructive apnoea, whereas right heart failure increases the likelihood as a result of rostral fluid shift causing upper airway narrowing in the supine position while asleep. Furthermore, upper airway inflammation associated with OSA may aggravate lower airway inflammation in COPD. The proposed mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in each disorder are similar and include systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and sympathetic excitation. Thus, one could expect that the prevalence of co-morbid cardiovascular disease would be higher in the overlap syndrome but, with the exception of pulmonary hypertension, there are few published reports that have explored this aspect in depth. Hypoxia is more pronounced in patients with the overlap syndrome, especially during sleep, which is likely to be the principal factor accounting for the recognised higher prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in these patients. Cardiac sympathetic activity is increased in patients with the overlap syndrome when compared to each disorder alone, but echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular strain is no greater in overlap patients when compared to COPD alone. While survival might be expected to be worse in overlap patients, recent evidence surprisingly indicates that the incremental contribution of lung function to mortality diminishes with increasing severity of OSA. Identification of co-morbid OSA in patients with COPD has practical clinical significance as appropriate positive airway pressure therapy in COPD patients with co-existing OSA is associated with improved morbidity and mortality.

The overlaps of asthma or COPD with OSA: A focused review

Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are the most common respiratory disorders worldwide. Given demographic and environmental changes, prevalence for each is likely to increase. Although exact numbers are not known, based on chance alone, many people will be affected by both lower airways obstruction and concomitant upper airway obstruction during sleep. Some recent studies suggest that there is a reciprocal interaction, with chronic lung disease predisposing to OSA, and OSA worsening control and outcomes from chronic lung disease. Thus, the combination of wake and sleep respiratory disorders can create an overlap syndrome with unique pathophysiological, diagnostic and therapeutic concerns. Although much work needs to be done, given the above, Respirologists, Sleep Medicine and Primary Care providers must be vigilant for overlap syndromes. Accurate diagnosis of, for example, OSA as a cause of nocturnal symptoms in a patient with asthma is likely to limit further ineffective titration of medications for asthma. Moreover, prompt treatment of OSA in the overlap syndromes will not only offer symptomatic benefit of OSA, but also improve symptoms and healthcare resource utilization attributable to obstructive lung disease, and in COPD, it may reduce mortality.