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Morssinkhof MWL, van der Werf YD, van den Heuvel OA, van den Ende DA, van der Tuuk K, den Heijer M, Broekman BFP. Influence of sex hormone use on sleep architecture in a transgender cohort. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad249. [PMID: 37715990 PMCID: PMC10636253 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad249] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Sex differences in sleep architecture are well-documented, with females experiencing longer total sleep time, more slow wave sleep (SWS), and shorter Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep duration than males. Although studies imply that sex hormones could affect sleep, research on exogenous sex hormones on sleep architecture is still inconclusive. This study examined sleep architecture changes in transgender individuals after 3 months of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). METHODS We assessed sleep architecture in 73 transgender individuals: 38 transmasculine participants who started using testosterone and 35 transfeminine participants who started using estrogens and antiandrogens. Sleep architecture was measured before GAHT and after 3 months of GAHT for 7 nights using an ambulatory single-electrode sleep EEG device. Changes in sleep architecture were analyzed using linear mixed models, and non-normally distributed outcomes were log-transformed and reported as percentages. RESULTS In transmasculine participants, SWS decreased by 7 minutes (95% CI: -12; -3) and 1.7% (95% CI: -3%; -0.5%), REM sleep latency decreased by 39% (95% CI: -52%; -22%) and REM sleep duration increased by 17 minutes (95% CI: 7; 26) after 3 months of GAHT. In transfeminine participants, sleep architecture showed no significant changes after 3 months of GAHT. CONCLUSIONS Sleep architecture changes after 3 months of masculinizing GAHT in line with sleep in cisgender males, while it shows no changes after feminizing GAHT. The sex-specific nature of these changes raises new questions about sex hormones and sleep. Future research should focus on studying possible underlying neural mechanisms and clinical consequences of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot W L Morssinkhof
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, OLVG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ysbrand D van der Werf
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Compulsivity Impulsivity and Attention, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Odile A van den Heuvel
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Compulsivity Impulsivity and Attention, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daan A van den Ende
- Remote Patient Monitoring & Chronic Care, Philips, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Karin van der Tuuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin den Heijer
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Birit F P Broekman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, OLVG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Genzor S, Prasko J, Mizera J, Kufa J, Zurkova M, Jakubec P, Vykopal M, Vanek J. Sex transition from female to male as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep Med 2023; 102:180-185. [PMID: 36701832 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
AIM The female-to-male (FtM) sex transition requires lifelong supplementation with male sex hormones, resulting in high prevalence of weight gain, fat redistribution and other metabolic changes. Although sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) data for this group of patients are very limited, increased prevalence is expected. We report a mini-series of six case reports of FtM transsexuals treated in our centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS All reported cases are consecutive patients referred to a department of respiratory diseases and tuberculosis of a university hospital from 2017 to 2022. The standard pulmonary examination was performed, followed by limited polysomnography. RESULTS In all FtM subjects, SDB was present and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy was indicated. The sex transition process was completed in three individuals while the other three only took testosterone supplementation at the assessment time. The subjects' age ranged from 21 to 38 years, the apnoea-hypopnea index ranged from 17.3 to 104.1, and the BMI was 33.48-43.41. The CPAP therapy was effective in five patients, with one requiring bi-level positive airway pressure therapy. One subject committed suicide before the first check-up, four patients had a good level of compliance at one-year follow-up, and one had insufficient CPAP adherence. CONCLUSION SDB decreases the quality of life and life expectancy of FtM individuals. Their prognosis is undoubtedly better with effective treatment. Hence, obese FtM subjects should be considered at risk and screened for SDB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Genzor
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic; Center for Digital Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech republic
| | - Jan Prasko
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Olomouc and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic; Institute for Postgraduate Education in Health Care, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Jan Mizera
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Kufa
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Zurkova
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jakubec
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Vykopal
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Vanek
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Olomouc and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Dolsen EA, Byers AL, Flentje A, Goulet JL, Jasuja GK, Lynch KE, Maguen S, Neylan TC. Sleep disturbance and suicide risk among sexual and gender minority people. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100488. [PMID: 36164391 PMCID: PMC9508603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep disturbance has emerged as an independent, mechanistic, and modifiable risk factor for suicide. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people disproportionately experience sleep disturbance and are at higher risk of death by suicide relative to cisgender and/or heterosexual individuals. The present narrative review evaluates nascent research related to sleep disturbance and suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among SGM populations, and discusses how experiences of minority stress may explain heightened risk among SGM people. Although there is a growing understanding of the link between sleep disturbance and STBs, most research has not been conducted in SGM populations or has not examined suicide as an outcome. Research is needed to examine whether and how aspects of sleep disturbances relate to STBs among SGM people in order to better tailor sleep treatments for SGM populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Dolsen
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amy L Byers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Research Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Annesa Flentje
- Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Alliance Health Project, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Joseph L Goulet
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guneet K Jasuja
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA.,Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristine E Lynch
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI), VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Shira Maguen
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
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4
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LoMauro A, Aliverti A. Sex and gender in respiratory physiology. Eur Respir Rev 2021; 30:30/162/210038. [PMID: 34750114 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0038-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex is a biological concept determined at conception. Gender is a social concept. Medicine recognises sex as a biological variable and recommends including sex as a factor in clinical practice norms and as a topic of bench and clinical research. Sex plays a role in respiratory physiology according to two pathways: hormones and anatomy, with females characterised by smaller dimensions at every level of the respiratory system. Sex hormones also play specific roles in lung inflammatory processes, breathing control and in response to diseases. The literature is extremely controversial because many factors need to be considered to avoid erroneous comparisons. The main difficulty lies in creating homogeneous groups of subjects according to age, body weight, lung/airway size, fluctuations in circulating hormone levels, and exercise protocol. Because almost all of the knowledge available in physiology is based on research in males, medicine for women is therefore less evidence-based than that being applied to men. Finally, the number of transsexual people is increasing and they represent new challenges for clinicians, due to the anatomical and physiological changes that they undergo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella LoMauro
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Aliverti
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Hershner S, Jansen EC, Gavidia R, Matlen L, Hoban M, Dunietz GL. Associations Between Transgender Identity, Sleep, Mental Health and Suicidality Among a North American Cohort of College Students. Nat Sci Sleep 2021; 13:383-398. [PMID: 33762860 PMCID: PMC7982442 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s286131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between transgender identity, sleep, and mental health among a North American cohort of cisgender and transgender college students. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study surveyed 221,549 North American college students from the 2016-2017 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II. Bivariate and multivariable analysis examined associations among transgender identity and outcomes of insomnia symptoms, daytime sleepiness, sleep disorder diagnoses and treatments. Mental health outcomes included mood symptoms, suicidal behaviors, anxiety and depression diagnoses and treatments. RESULTS Transgender identity was reported by 1.6% (n=3471) of United States (US) and 1.7% (n=717) Canadian students, respectively. Mean age was 22.5 ±6. Transgender college students have an increased prevalence of daytime sleepiness, insomnia symptoms, diagnoses and/or treatment of insomnia and other sleep disorders as compared to cisgender college students. Mental Health symptoms are more prevalent with a 2-fold increase in depression and anxiety and nearly a 4-fold increase in suicide attempts among transgender students. A higher burden of mood symptoms exists among transgender college students in the US in comparison to Canadian students. CONCLUSION Transgender college students have an alarmingly high rate of mood, sleep disturbances and sleep diagnoses, and suicidality. Colleges and universities must provide sufficient resources to address the sleep and mental health needs of transgender students. Institutions must adopt gender affirming policies that promote an inclusive environment. Increased allocation of resources and adoption of policies that enhance the physical and mental health of transgender students could improve sleep, mood, and potentially lower the suicide risk among a population that often experiences health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley Hershner
- Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erica C Jansen
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ronald Gavidia
- Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lisa Matlen
- Department of Pediatrics; Sleep Disorder Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mary Hoban
- American College Health Association, Research Office, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Galit Levi Dunietz
- Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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