Messung des Atemzugvolumens bei Patienten mit Obesitas-Hypoventilations-Syndrom und Opiumabhängigkeit

Abstract

Abstract Background Both obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and opium dependence can negatively affect nocturnal respiratory functionality. However, the effects of a combination of the two are relatively unknown. In this study, the tidal volume (VT) of OHS patients with and without opium dependence was estimated by measuring changes in the circumference of the thorax and the abdomen during sleep. Materials and methods This case–control study was performed in Iran, Isfahan. Initially, 20 healthy subjects calibrated the Pneumobelts (Löwenstein Medical Technology GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) by wearing the device and also breathing in and out of a Spirobag. From this, it was possible to estimate the coefficient factors for determining VT based on thoracic and abdominal measures. Subsequently, the study included 55 patients with OHS, who were divided into two groups: opium dependent and non-users. They were then admitted to the sleep lab for a single night of polysomnography (PSG). VT was estimated and then compared between groups. Results In total, there were 24 patients in the opium group and 31 in the non-user control group. All PSG variables were analyzed with independent-sample t-tests and an analysis of covariance was used to adjust for potential confounding variables. The following confounding variables were adjusted: sex, smoking, body mass index, and hypertension. VT values were not significantly different between groups (opium: 772 ± 125.4; non-user: 774 ± 95). Average oxygen saturation values were significantly lower in opium-dependent patients (opium: 86.1 ± 5.5; non-user: 89.1 ± 4.1). All other variables from PSG including chest and abdominal circumference were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion OHS patients with opium dependency showed similar VT levels when compared to non-users with OHS. Due to the rarity of the sample, it was difficult to gather exactly matched pairs. Therefore, it is possible that with a more closely related sample, we might be able to see a difference in VT between groups.