Environmental Factors as Modulators of the Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Lesions in the Circulatory System

Association between blood ethylene oxide levels and trouble sleeping in U.S. adults: Data from NHANES 2013-2018

Environmental factors such as pollution have been reported to deteriorate sleep quality. Ethylene oxide (EO), a reactive cyclic oxide commonly used in manufacturing processes, has been associated with various health concerns such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory conditions. However, the relationship between EO exposure and self-reported troubled sleeping remains unclear. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2013 to 2018, 4310 participants with EO exposure histories were analyzed. Three groups of participants were categorized according to log2-transformed levels of hemoglobin adducts of the EO (HbEO). The risk of trouble sleeping was assessed using logistic regression, restricted cubic spline regression modeling, and subgroup analysis. Over the tertiles of HbEO levels, the prevalence of trouble sleeping prevalence increased from 28 % to 29 % to 35 %. Log2-transformed HbEO levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of trouble sleeping after adjusting for all covariates (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1 in model 4: OR = 1.41, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.86, P = 0.018, P for trend = 0.025). Additionally, a nonlinear J-shaped relationship was observed between HbEO levels and trouble sleeping. Furthermore, HbEO levels were positively correlated with trouble sleeping among different subgroups. Within the 40-60 age bracket, a distinct positive correlation emerged between HbEO levels and trouble sleeping (OR = 1.19, 95 % CI: 1.09-1.3, P = 0.0013). The results indicate a strong link between higher blood HbEO levels and an increased likelihood of sleep disturbances in U.S. adults, especially among those aged 40 to 60 years.

How Climate Change Is Impacting Allergic Rhinitis: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

The impact of climate change on health has become an increasingly widespread global health concern. This impact is especially relevant in the field of Otolaryngology; global warming has been shown to affect inflammatory upper airway disease, specifically allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aims to characterize the effect of climate change on the epidemiology of AR in adult and pediatric populations globally.

DATA SOURCES

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a literature search was performed across four databases. Inclusion criteria were: (1) published in English, (2) published between 2000 and 2023, (3) reported on the current epidemiological state of AR, (4) described factors related to climate change, and (5) observed global warming affecting allergy season and AR symptoms.

REVIEW METHODS

Two reviewers screened articles and performed full-text reviews.

RESULTS

Of the 502 articles assessed, 30 studies were eligible for inclusion. Sixteen studies reported longer pollen seasons and/or higher pollen concentrations related to climate change, with two projecting total pollen emissions to increase by 16-40% and pollen season length to increase by 19 days in North America. Four studies reported an increase in AR-related healthcare usage; low-income residents were most impacted by increased usage. Two studies identified that healthcare professionals want more education on climate change.

CONCLUSION

Our scoping review highlights how climate change is altering pollen seasons and concentrations, AR disease prevalence, allergy sensitization, and AR symptom severity. Health professionals have expressed an understanding of climate change's impact on health and a desire for further education.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.

Evaluation of Serum/Plasma Levels of Interleukins (IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IL-18, and IL-23) in Adults and Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep. We aimed to evaluate serum/plasma levels of several cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-12, IL-17, IL-18, and IL-23) in a systematic review meta-analysis in both adults and children with OSA compared with controls. We conducted a comprehensive search of 4 digital databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) up until October 19, 2023, without any limitations. For our meta-analysis, we used Review Manager, version 5.3, and displayed the data as the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess the correlation between cytokine levels and OSA. We utilized Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3.0 software to conduct bias analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses. From 1881 records, 84 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. In adults, the pooled SMDs for IL-6 level were 0.79 (P value < 0.00001), for IL-17 level were 0.74 (P value = 0.14), and for IL-18 level were 0.43 (P value = 0.00002). In children, the pooled SMD for IL-6 was 1.10 (P value < 0.00001), for IL-12 was 0.47 (P value = 0.10), for IL-17 was 2.21 (a P value = 0.24), for IL-18 was 0.19 (P value = 0.07), and for IL-23 was 2.46 (P value < 0.0001). The subgroup analysis showed that the ethnicity, mean body mass index, and mean apnea-hypopnea index for IL-6 levels in adults and the ethnicity for IL-6 levels in children were effective factors in the pooled SMD. The findings of the trial sequential analysis revealed that adequate evidence has been obtained. The analysis of IL levels in adults and children with OSA compared with those without OSA revealed significant differences. In adults, IL-6 and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in the OSA group, while in children, only IL-6 and IL-23 levels were significantly elevated.

Association of air pollution with risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a significant health concern characterized by recurrent upper airway blockages during sleep, causing various health issues. There's growing evidence of a link between air pollution and OSA, though research results have been inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to consolidate and examine data on the relationship between air pollution and OSA's risk and severity.

METHODS

A literature search across PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science was conducted until January 10, 2024. The selection criteria targeted studies involving OSA participants or those at risk, with quantitative air pollution assessments. The Nested Knowledge software facilitated screening and data extraction, while the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Meta-analyses, utilizing random-effects models, computed pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the OSA risk associated with PM2.5 and NO2 exposure, analyzed using R software version 4.3.

RESULTS

The systematic review included twelve studies, four of which were analyzed in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed diverse results on the association of PM2.5 and NO2 with OSA risk. PM2.5 exposure showed a pooled OR of 0.987 (95 % CI: 0.836-1.138), indicating no substantial overall impact on OSA risk. Conversely, NO2 exposure was linked to a pooled OR of 1.095 (95 % CI: 0.920-1.270), a non-significant increase in risk. Many studies found a relationship between air pollution exposure and elevated Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) levels, indicating a relationship between air pollution and OSA severity.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest air pollutants, especially NO2, might play a role in worsening OSA risk and severity, but the evidence isn't definitive. This highlights the variability of different pollutants' effects and the necessity for more research. Understanding these links is vital for shaping public health policies and clinical approaches to address OSA amidst high air pollution.

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.

Efficacy and safety of liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVES

To observe the efficacy and side effects of liraglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

The study conducted in an outpatient setting was a two-center, prospective randomized controlled study. T2DM patients with severe OSA were randomized to the control group (continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] and drug treatment without liraglutide) or the liraglutide group (CPAP and drug treatment including liraglutide). Demographic and clinical characteristics, sleep-disordered breathing indices, cardiac function indices, and side effects were evaluated and compared between the two groups before and after 3 months.

RESULTS

Of 90 patients, 45 were randomized to the intervention arm (with liraglutide) and 45 to the control arm (without liraglutide). One patient in the liraglutide group dropped out of the study on day 8 after enrollment due to obvious gastrointestinal symptoms. No significant differences were found between the two groups in baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, cardiac function indicators, or sleep disorder respiratory indices (P > 0.05). After 3 months, the body mass index (BMI), apnea hypopnea index (AHI), and mean systolic blood pressure in the liraglutide treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The minimum oxygen saturation was significantly higher in the liraglutide group compared with that in the control group after 3 months of follow-up (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the two groups in the summary of side effects (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Liraglutide combined with CPAP can effectively reduce BMI, lower mean systolic blood pressure, and improve AHI scores and hypoxia in T2DM patients with severe OSA. Liraglutide did not increase side effects.

Effect of Short-Term Treatment with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tolerance, Pulmonary and Cardiac Function in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition with a high prevalence, linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as well as increased morbidity and death. CPAP is currently considered the "gold standard" treatment for OSA, but more thorough research and testing are required to assess its efficacy on cardiopulmonary function. Objectives: To evaluate pulmonary function of OSA patients, cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance test (CPET) performance, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, and polysomnographic changes before and after 3 months of CPAP therapy. Materials and methods: A total of 34 patients diagnosed with moderate or severe OSA, as well as 17 patients as a control group for the evaluation of the cardiac MRI, were included in this study. All the subjects were obese (body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2). Lung function tests, CPETs, cardiac MRIs, and polysomnography were performed at the time of the study's enrolment before the initiation of the CPAP therapy and after 3 months of the CPAP treatment. Results: The patients' VO2max during the CPAP treatment tended to increase, but no statistical significance was found (before treatment it was 17.52 ± 3.79 mL/kg/min and after 3 months of treatment, it was 18.6 ± 3,4 mL/kg/min; p = 0.255). The CPAP treatment had positive effects on pulmonary ventilation at the anaerobic threshold (VEAT): 44.51 L/min (43.21%) during the baseline visit and 38.60 L/min (37.86%) after the 3-month treatment period (p = 0.028). The ventilator equivalent for the carbon dioxide slope (VE/VCO2) at peak exercise decreased from 23.47 to 20.63 (p = 0.042). The patients' pulmonary function tests were without abnormalities and did not change after treatment. When assessing cardiac the MRIs, the RV ejection fraction was lower in the OSA group compared to that of the control subjects (53.69 ± 8.91 and 61.35 ± 9.08, p = 0.016). Both LA and RA global longitudinal strains (GLS) improved after 3 months of treatment with CPAP (20.45 ± 7.25 and 26.05 ± 14.00, p = 0.043; 21.04 ± 7.14 and 26.18 ± 7.17, p = 0.049, respectively). Additionally, it was found that CPAP therapy led to statistical improvements in RV end-diastolic volume (164.82 ± 32.57 and 180.16 ± 39.09, p = 0.042). The AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) significantly changed after 3 months of the initiation of the CPAP treatment (p = 0.049 and p = 0.001, respectively). The REM sleep duration decreased, while the duration of non-REM sleep increased after treatment initiation with CPAP (p = 0.016 and p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusions: Short-term CPAP treatment improves pulmonary ventilation, sleep efficiency, and sleep architecture. Significant alterations in both atrias' GLS and RV end-diastolic volume were observed after 3 months of treatment. Longer-term follow-up and a larger patient sample are needed to confirm the reproducibility of our results.

Attitudes and Perceptions of Canadian Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgeons and Residents on Environmental Sustainability

Objective

Healthcare systems, specifically operating rooms, significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing operating room environmental sustainability requires understanding current practices, opinions, and barriers. This is the first study assessing the attitudes and perceptions of otolaryngologists on environmental sustainability.

Study Design

Cross-sectional virtual survey.

Setting

Email survey to active members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Methods

A 23-question survey was developed in REDCap. The questions focused on four themes: (1) demographics, (2) attitudes and beliefs, (3) institutional practices, and (4) education. A combination of multiple choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions were employed.

Results

Response rate was 11% (n = 80/699). Most respondents strongly believed in climate change (86%). Only 20% strongly agree that operating rooms contribute to the climate crisis. Most agree environmental sustainability is very important at home (62%) and in their community (64%), only 46% said it was very important in the operating room. Barriers to environmental sustainability were incentives (68%), hospital supports (60%), information/knowledge (59%), cost (58%), and time (50%). Of those involved in residency programs, 89% (n = 49/55) reported there was no education on environmental sustainability or they were unsure if there was.

Conclusion

Canadian otolaryngologists strongly believe in climate change, but there is more ambivalence regarding operating rooms as a significant contributor. There is a need for further education and a systemic reduction of barriers to facilitate eco-action in otolaryngology operating rooms.

Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis): A Current Update on Use in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Disease

The tea plant (C. sinensis) has traditionally been consumed worldwide as "tea" for its many health benefits, with the potential for the prevention and therapy of various conditions. Regardless of its long history, the use of tea plants in modern times seems not to have changed much, as the beverage remains the most popular form. This review aimed to compile scientific information about the role and action of tea plants, as well as their status concerning clinical applications, based on the currently available evidence, with a focus on metabolic syndrome, mainly covering obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It has been recognized that these diseases pose a significant threat to public health, and the development of effective treatment and prevention strategies is necessary but still challenging. In this article, the potential benefits of tea plants and their derived bioactive components (such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate) as anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-cardiovascular agents are clearly shown and emphasized, along with their mechanisms of action. However, according to the status of the clinical translation of tea plants, particularly in drug development, more substantial efforts in well-designed, randomized, controlled trials are required to expand their applications in treating the three major metabolic disorders and avoiding the toxicity caused by overconsumption.

Planetary sleep medicine: Studying sleep at the individual, population, and planetary level

Circadian rhythms are a series of endogenous autonomous oscillators that are generated by the molecular circadian clock which coordinates and synchronizes internal time with the external environment in a 24-h daily cycle (that can also be shorter or longer than 24 h). Besides daily rhythms, there exist as well other biological rhythms that have different time scales, including seasonal and annual rhythms. Circadian and other biological rhythms deeply permeate human life, at any level, spanning from the molecular, subcellular, cellular, tissue, and organismal level to environmental exposures, and behavioral lifestyles. Humans are immersed in what has been called the "circadian landscape," with circadian rhythms being highly pervasive and ubiquitous, and affecting every ecosystem on the planet, from plants to insects, fishes, birds, mammals, and other animals. Anthropogenic behaviors have been producing a cascading and compounding series of effects, including detrimental impacts on human health. However, the effects of climate change on sleep have been relatively overlooked. In the present narrative review paper, we wanted to offer a way to re-read/re-think sleep medicine from a planetary health perspective. Climate change, through a complex series of either direct or indirect mechanisms, including (i) pollution- and poor air quality-induced oxygen saturation variability/hypoxia, (ii) changes in light conditions and increases in the nighttime, (iii) fluctuating temperatures, warmer values, and heat due to extreme weather, and (iv) psychological distress imposed by disasters (like floods, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and infectious outbreaks by emerging and reemerging pathogens) may contribute to inducing mismatches between internal time and external environment, and disrupting sleep, causing poor sleep quantity and quality and sleep disorders, such as insomnia, and sleep-related breathing issues, among others. Climate change will generate relevant costs and impact more vulnerable populations in underserved areas, thus widening already existing global geographic, age-, sex-, and gender-related inequalities.

The Association between Asthma and OSA in Children

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma are two of the most prevalent and commonly co-existing respiratory conditions seen in the pediatric population. Studies linking asthma and OSA in children are limited but indicate that there is a bi-directional relationship between them with significant overlap in the symptoms, risk factors, pathophysiology, comorbidities, and management. It is suggested that there is a reciprocal association between asthma predisposing to OSA, and OSA worsening symptom control and outcomes from asthma. It stands to reason that inflammation in the upper and/or lower airways can influence each other. Most of the pediatric literature that is available evaluates each aspect of this relationship independently such as risk factors, mechanisms, and treatment indications. This article highlights the relationship between OSA and asthma in the context of shared risk factors, pathophysiology, and available management recommendations in the pediatric population. Early recognition of the co-existence and association between OSA and asthma could ideally improve the treatment outcomes for these two conditions. Gaining a better understanding of the mechanism of this relationship can help identify nuances for medical management, optimize treatment and protect this population at risk from associated morbidity.

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.

Association and Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. Epidemiologic studies show that sleep apnea increases cardiovascular diseases risk factors including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. OSA is also responsible for serious illnesses such as congestive heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias, and bronchial asthma. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate evidence for the association between OSA and cardiovascular disease morbidities and identify risk factors for the conditions. In a review of 34 studies conducted in 28 countries with a sample of 37,599 people, several comorbidities were identified in patients with severe OSA—these were: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, asthma, COPD, acute heart failure, chronic heart failure, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disease, cerebral infarct or embolism, myocardial infarction, and psychological comorbidities including stress and depression. Important risk factors contributing to OSA included: age > 35 years; BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²; alcoholism; higher Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS); mean apnea duration; oxygen desaturation index (ODI); and nocturnal oxygen desaturation (NOD). Severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30) was significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and oxygen desaturation index. The risk of OSA and associated disease morbidities can be reduced by controlling overweight/obesity, alcoholism, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.