Average Apnea-hypopnea Index Research Articles

The Effect of Occupational Therapy Intervention on Occupational Performance in the Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a common sleep disorder characterised by recurrent breathing interruptions during sleep, leading to significant health issues and impaired occupational performance. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention program tailored for OSAS patients. Methods: A total of 23 participants (18 males and 5 females) diagnosed with OSAS were included in this prospective analytical study conducted over six months at a tertiary care hospital. Participants were selected based on specific inclusion criteria, and their baseline and post-intervention assessments were performed using the Occupational Performance History Interview-II (OPHI-II). Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the significance of the results. Results: The mean age of participants was 51.96 years, with an average Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) of 39.87. Significant improvements were observed in occupational identity (pre-test: 25.08 ± 6.88; post-test: 30.78 ± 7.02), occupational competence (pre-test: 20.91 ± 6.37; post-test: 25.00 ± 6.65), and occupational setting (pre-test: 20.86 ± 6.00; post-test: 25.04 ± 6.58), with all p-values < 0.001, indicating high statistical significance. Conclusion: The occupational therapy intervention program significantly enhanced the occupational performance and overall well-being of patients with OSAS. This study highlights the importance of integrating occupational therapy into the management of OSAS, particularly for patients facing barriers to conventional treatments. Future research should further explore the long-term effects and broader applications of such interventions.

How we measure hypoglossal nerve stimulator outcome matters: titration versus single amplitude efficacy sleep studies.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Objective assessment of HGNS efficacy measures apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by multi-amplitude titration polysomnography (tPSG) and/or a single amplitude efficacy sleep study (eHST). Both tests have been used to determine efficacy despite significantly different protocols. This project's aim was to determine differences in objective outcomes in HGNS patients who underwent both tPSG and eHST post-operatively. Data from 379 consecutive HGNS patients were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion requirements were a pre-operative sleep study, a post-operative tPSG, and then an eHST, which at our institution is a type 3 home study. AHI mean and differences were calculated. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to analyze differences between tPSG and eHST. Sher15 criteria (post-operative AHI≤15 events/hour and ≥50% reduction from baseline) was calculated and compared by χ2 tests. Ultimately 61 patients met inclusion criteria with an average pre-operative AHI=33.2. When comparing the subject's tPSG versus eHST, tPSG AHI was significantly lower (AHI=8.8 versus AHI=17.6; respectively, p<0.001). There was also a difference in the percentage of patients that met Sher15 criteria when using tPSG (80.3%) versus eHST AHI (45.9%). HGNS patient's postoperative tPSG AHI was significantly lower than their eHST outcome. This work highlights the importance of reporting the type of post-operative study used in evaluating HGNS efficacy and the need for single amplitude, full-night studies to assess HGNS efficacy more accurately.

Revealing inconsistencies between Epworth scores and apnea-hypopnea index when evaluating obstructive sleep apnea severity: a clinical retrospective chart review.

A common practice in clinical settings is the use of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to demonstrate the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, several instances were noted where there were discrepancies in the reported severity between Epworth scores and AHI in our patient sample, prompting an investigation into whether OSA severity as demonstrated by AHI or predicted by ESS quantification of sleepiness is primarily responsible for inconsistencies. Discrepancies were examined between Epworth scores and AHI by categorizing patients into two categories of inconsistency: individuals with either ESS < 10 and AHI ≥ 15 events/h or ESS ≥ 10 and AHI < 15 events/h. The potential influence of sex on these categories was addressed by assessing whether a significant difference was present between mean Epworth scores and AHI values for men and women in the sample. We investigated BMI both by itself as its own respective variable and with respect to the sex of the individuals, along with a consideration into the role of anxiety. Furthermore, we tested anxiety with respect to sex. In the first category of inconsistency the average ESS of 5.27 ± 0.33 suggests a normal level of daytime sleepiness. However, this contrasts with the average AHI of 32.26 ± 1.82 events/h which is indicative of severe OSA. In the second category the average ESS of 14.29 ± 0.47 suggests severe daytime sleepiness, contradicting the average AHI of 9.16 ± 0.44 events/h which only indicates mild OSA. Sex, BMI (both as a variable by itself and with respect to sex), and anxiety (both as a variable by itself and with respect to sex) contributed to observed inconsistencies. The findings of our study substantiate our hypothesis that Epworth scores should be de-emphasized in the assessment of OSA and a greater importance should be placed on measures like AHI. While Epworth scores offer insights into patients' daytime sleepiness levels and the perceived severity of their OSA, the inconsistencies highlighted in our results when compared to AHI-based OSA severity underscore their potential inaccuracy. Caution is advised when utilizing Epworth scores for evaluating OSA severity in clinical settings.

Comparison of high flow nasal cannula therapy to nasal oxygen as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in infants.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants is treated with low flow oxygen via nasal cannula (NC), CPAP (continous positive airway pressure), or surgery. Literature supports the use of high flow NC (HFNC) in children in the outpatient setting, however there is limited data on the use of HFNC in infants. The purpose of this study was to compare HFNC and low-flow oxygen as treatments for OSA in infants. A prospective pilot study was performed at two institutions. Infants with primarily OSA underwent a 3-4 h sleep study with HFNC titration at 6-14 lpm for OSA, followed by clinical polysomnography (PSG) for oxygen titration (1/8-1 lpm). Infants with primarily central apnea were excluded. Nine infants were enrolled, with a mean age of 1.3 ± 1.7 months. Average apnea hypopnea index (AHI), average obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) and average central apnea index during the diagnostic PSG was 17.2 ± 7/h, 13.4 ± 5.4/h and 3.7 ± 4.8/h respectively. OSA improved in 44.4% of subjects with HFNC; the mean AHI and OAHI decreased from 15.6 ± 5.65/h and 12.8 ± 4.4/h on diagnostic PSG to 5.12 ± 2.5/h and 4.25 ± 2.5/h on titration PSG. OSA improved universally with low flow oxygen; the mean AHI decreased from 17.2 ± 7/h on diagnostic PSG to 4.44 ± 3.6/h on titration PSG. HFNC reduced OSA in some infants, though low flow oxygen reduced OSA in all subjects. Respiratory instability (high loop gain) in infants may explain why infants responded to low flow oxygen. More studies are needed to determine if HFNC is beneficial in selected groups of infants with OSA.

The Repeatability of Pharyngeal Opening Pressure Under Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy.

Pharyngeal opening pressure (PhOP) is a measure of upper airway collapsibility that can be obtained during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration. However, the stability of PhOP over the course of sedation during DISE remains unclear. This study aims to compare repeat measures of PhOP over the course of DISE. Single arm prospective study. Single tertiary care institution. Patients had 2 CPAP titrations while undergoing DISE. Collected data included patient demographics, PhOP, patient sedation index (PSI), and duration of and between CPAP titrations. t Tests, test-retest coefficient analysis, and repeated measures correlation were performed. Twenty-five patients completed the study between 2022 and 2023 with 22 patients having sedation depth (PSI) recording. Most were male (76%), obese (average body mass index: 30.24 kg/m2), with severe obstructive sleep apnea (average apnea-hypopnea index: 39.8 events/hr). Test-retest analysis showed good-excellent correlation between PhOP values (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.892, P < .0001, n = 25). Average time between CPAP titrations was 15 minutes to 6 seconds. Over that time, PhOP increased by an average of 0.72 cmH2O (P = .06, n = 25) and PSI decreased by 9.5 units (P = .01, n = 22). Repeated measures correlation showed a weak negative correlation between PhOP and PSI (r = -.45, P = .03, n = 22). The results showed repeatability of PhOP values over the course of DISE. When adjusted for sedation depth (PSI), deeper sedation was weakly associated with greater PHOP. However, the magnitude of this change was small and we conclude that PhOP remains relatively stable over the course of DISE (Effects of Lung Volume on Upper Airway Patency During DISE [DISE-Pulm], NCT05350332, clinicaltrials.gov).

Homocysteine as a predictor of apnea-hypopnea index in obstructive sleep apnea: a longitudinal epidemiological study (EPISONO).

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nearly 1 billion people globally, and has established links with cardiovascular and neurocognitive complications. Although it has some limitations, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is commonly used to gauge OSA severity and therapeutic response. Homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism, when impaired, can elicit cellular senescence mechanisms that may be shared with OSA. Hence, our objective was to explore the role of Hcy concentrations both as a predictor of AHI values and as a potential risk factor for OSA. Involving 1042 volunteers aged 20 to 80years, the initial study (2007) included polysomnographic evaluations, questionnaires on sleep and general health, as well as biochemical analyses. After an 8-year interval, 715 participants from the initial study were invited for a follow-up assessment in 2015. Our findings showed that Hcy was a predictor for an increased AHI, and AHI increased over time. Individuals with plasma Hcy concentrations ≥ 15µmol/L experienced an average AHI increase of 7.43 events/hour ([beta coefficient] β = 7.43; 95%CI 2.73 to 12.13) over time, compared to those with plasma concentrations < 10µmol/L. A similar trend was apparent in those with plasma Hcy concentrations between 10 ≥ and < 15µmol/L, who had an AHI increase with an average beta coefficient of 3.20 events/hour (95%CI 1.01 to 5.39) compared to those with plasma Hcy concentrations < 10µmol/L. In summary, our study suggests that increased plasma Hcy concentrations could be considered a risk factor for the development of OSA. These findings highlight that elevated plasma Hcy concentrations can predict the severity of OSA, underscoring their correlation with the AHI.

Implementation of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis for Patients With Pierre Robin Sequence in a Developing Country Through International Collaboration: A Paradigm for Success.

Though it has made significant strides, Vietnam remains a resource-constrained country of 98 million people. Vietnam National Children's Hospital (VNCH) provides tertiary care to a catchment of 40 million people and is the sole national children's hospital. As such, it is one of the few referral centers in the country equipped to take care of patients diagnosed with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) as this requires pulmonary, critical care, otolaryngology, and plastic surgery expertise. Before 2015, the only surgical options were tongue lip adhesion or tracheostomy. Only 20% of patients successfully avoided tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, or death. From 2015 to 2019, mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) was introduced by visiting international surgeons on a short-term basis. Since 2020, local surgeons at VNCH have refined their technique and widely use MDO independently. This report seeks to capitulate their experience and identify factors leading to success. A retrospective review was conducted of patients diagnosed with PRS at VNCH from 2015 to 2022. Paper records were digitized, translated, and reviewed for inclusion criteria, including demographics, indications, hospital course, and postoperative outcomes. Complete records satisfying inclusion criteria were available for 53 patients with a diagnosis of PRS who underwent MDO from 2020 to 2022. From 2015 to 2019, there were 19 cases of MDO, though records were incomplete. The median age at the time of MDO was 50 ± 43 days. Forty patients (75.5%) had isolated PRS and 13 (24.5%) were syndromic. Forty-four patients (83%) had a cleft palate. Fifty-one (96.2%) of patients required preoperative supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The active distraction and consolidation phase was 4.8 ± 1.3 months. The median days to discharge after surgery was 19.0 ± 8.3 days. Median weight at birth, at the time of surgery, and at the time of device removal were 6.8 ± 1.2, 7.7 ± 1.9, and 14.8 ± 2.8 pounds, respectively. Fifty-two patients (98.1%) had obstructive sleep apnea preoperatively with an average Apnea Hypopnea Index of 25.0 ± 10.6. Post-MDO, only 4 (7.5%) had obstructive sleep apnea and the average Apnea Hypopnea Index was 5.2 ± 0.6. No patients (0) required a tracheostomy for a 100% success rate. The tremendous success of the implementation of MDO by local surgeons in Vietnam after its introduction by visiting international surgeons illustrates a paradigm for capacity-enhancing global surgical endeavors. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis has replaced tongue lip adhesion as the surgical treatment of choice for PRS patients at VNCH. Surgical techniques can be transferred to operating environments with basic infrastructure through collaboration and resource optimization. These results demonstrate that global surgical engagement may be scalable and repeatable with direct benefits for patients in lower-middle-income countries.

Polysomnographic findings in the ultra-rare McLeod syndrome: further documentation of sleep apnea as a possible feature.

McLeod syndrome is a very rare multisystemic neurodegenerative disease linked to mutations in the XK gene. It has cardiac, neurologic, and neuromuscular manifestations and shares similarities with Huntington's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep patterns of patients affected by McLeod syndrome. This retrospective case series of four males who underwent diagnostic polysomnography (mean age 53.8 ± 2.5 years) includes self-reported and objective evaluation of sleep using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, genetic tests, documentation of clinical course and features, and laboratory-based full-night attended video-polysomnography. In three out of four patients, an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥ 7 was evident. The average apnea-hypopnea index was 45.0 ± 19.0, with predominantly obstructive phenotype in three patients and predominant central events (central sleep apnea syndrome) in one patient. A significantly increased periodic limb movement index during sleep was observed in all patients. All patients tolerated continuous positive airway pressure or pressure controlled therapy. Polysomnography of all patients confirmed sleep apnea syndrome as a feature of McLeod syndrome. Three patients were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and one with central sleep apnea syndrome. In addition, periodic limb movement index was increased in all patients. Dieter M, Kevin P, Tobias V, etal. Polysomnographic findings in the ultra-rare McLeod syndrome: further documentation of sleep apnea as a possible feature. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(3):339-344.

Nighttime Sleep and Respiratory Disturbances in Individuals Receiving Methadone to Treat Opioid Use Disorder.

Opioids are a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Methadone used as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) reduces drug cravings and promotes abstinence. However, individuals in methadone-based MOUD treatment commonly report subjective sleep complaints and are at risk for respiratory depression from opioids. We investigated nighttime sleep and respiratory function in eight individuals (six women, two men; ages 31-68 years) in their first 90 days of methadone-based MOUD treatment. Participants underwent overnight cardiorespiratory polysomnography. Sleep and respiratory variables were characterized with descriptive statistics for comparison to reference data from similarly aged healthy adults. Although participants spent 8.1 ± 0.3 hours (mean ± SD ) in bed, their total sleep time was only 6.8 ± 1.3 hours. They exhibited longer sleep latency and intermittent wakefulness. Sleep structure was irregular, with disrupted sleep cycles. Participants also displayed a decreased amount of N1 sleep and an increased amount of N3 sleep, compared with reference data. Participants showed respiratory depression, with an average apnea-hypopnea index of 16.5 ± 8.9 events per hour. Central sleep apneas comprised 69.1% ± 20.9% of the respiratory events. A Cheyne-Stokes-like breathing pattern, consisting of 30-second cycles of three central sleep apneas, was observed in 75% of participants. Our results suggest that individuals early in methadone-based MOUD treatment experience disordered sleep and respiratory disturbances. Such nighttime physiological changes may have serious long-term health consequences and contribute to unintended overdose rates. Identifying and treating MOUD individuals with sleep apnea could reduce risk of death.

0511 An observational retrospective study of the efficacy of oral appliance therapy (OAT) in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Abstract Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 15-30% of males and 10-15% of females in North America. While positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy remains the standard in the treatment of OSA, oral appliance therapy (OAT) has emerged as a viable non-invasive alternative. However, there are limited data on OAT efficacy published, and therefore many sleep clinicians question its efficacy. We conducted a 14-month single-center consecutive chart review to evaluate OAT efficacy. Methods A manual chart review was performed for records from 11/1/2020 to 12/10/2022. Potential charts were identified in the electronic health record by searching for prescriptions for OAT and orders for home sleep apnea tests (HSAT). If there was a test performed after the prescription was written, the chart was reviewed manually for previous test results and verified that post-OAT testing was conducted. Extracted information included age, BMI, gender, pre-OAT HSAT apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and post-OAT HSAT AHI. The 4% desaturation criteria for AHI was used in accordance with current Medicare guidelines. A paired t-test was performed after ensuring there were no outliers and a normal distribution. Results There were 10 patients included in the analysis: 6 women, 4 men. The average age was 61.1 years (95% CI 49.9-72.3), and average BMI was 28.9 (95% CI 253-32.4). Prior to intervention, 2 patients had moderate OSA with the rest mild (average pre-OAT AHI 13). After OAT device, 4 patients had mild OSA and the rest did not have residual OSA (average post-OAT AHI 4). The results of the paired t-test showed that the mean AHI was statistically significantly different between the two groups (t=-4.54 with df=9, p=0.0014). The mean difference was -8.1 with 95% confidence interval for the true difference in the population mean AHI of -12.1, -4.06. Conclusion The results demonstrate efficacy of OAT in treating OSA. Clinicians should consider OAT as both primary and secondary therapy for mild-to-moderate OSA. Support (if any) N/A

0465 Difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep is associated with increased blood pressure in people with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Introduction Approximately 30-50% of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep (DIMS). The co-occurrence of OSA and DIMS is associated with worse mental health and quality of life compared to OSA alone. This study investigated potential associations between OSA and regular sleep disturbances (defined over multiple months) with blood pressure and hypertension. Methods A validated under-mattress sleep analyzer (WITHINGS) monitored sleep in 12,287 participants over ~6-months at home. The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), sleep onset latency (SOL) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were calculated over the recording period. OSA was defined as an average AHI ≥ 15 events/hour. DIMS was defined as an average SOL ≥30 min and/or WASO ≥ 45min. Participants were categorized into those with neither condition (control), OSA-alone, DIMS-alone, and OSA+DIMS. Blood pressure measurements were recorded using a home monitor to define hypertension based on mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or a mean diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg. Associations between OSA+DIMS and hypertension were investigated using regression analyses controlled for age, sex, and BMI. Results Participants were middle-aged (Mean±SD; 50±12 y), mostly men (88%) and overweight (BMI; 28±6 kg∙m-2). The prevalence of DIMS-alone, OSA-alone and OSA+DIMS was 10%, 21% and 8%, respectively. OSA-alone was associated with (mean [95%CI]) 4.5 [4.1, 5.0] and 2.6 [2.3, 2.93] mmHg higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure values compared to control. OSA+DIMS was associated with a 5.9 [5.3, 6.6] and 3.7 [3.3, 4.2] mmHg difference compared to control, and the increased difference was greater than OSA-alone (systolic: +1.4 [0.8, 2.0]; diastolic: +1.12 [0.7, 1.6] mmHg; p-values &amp;lt; 0.001).Furthermore , OSA-alone and OSA+DIMS were associated with a 37 [22 to 54] and a 60 [36 to 88] % increase in hypertension prevalence compared to control, respectively. OSA+DIMS had a greater increase in hypertension prevalence (17% [-1 to 38%]) compared to OSA-alone. Conclusion OSA when combined with difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep, consistent with insomnia symptomology, was associated with higher blood pressure and increased hypertension prevalence compared to OSA-alone. Support (if any)

Factors Associated with the Underestimation of Manual CPAP Titration Pressure.

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the use of in-laboratory positive airway pressure (PAP) titration studies was not routinely suggested. PAP pressure prediction calculations are emerging as alternative methods for the treatment of these patients. The underestimation of PAP titration pressure usually leads to unsatisfactory results for PAP therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with the underestimation of PAP titration pressure when using PAP pressure prediction equations. Estimated PAP pressure formulas based on body mass index (BMI) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) were chosen to validate the accuracy of equations in the successful prediction of titration pressure. Among 341 adult patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by overnight polysomnography (PSG) and who received overnight PAP titration in order to select a successful pressure, the mean age of the total subjects was 55.4 years old and 78.9% of patients were male. The average BMI and AHI scores were 27.1 ± 4.8 and 37 ± 21.7, respectively. After multivariate stepwise regression analysis, the odds ratio of participants with a pretitration AHI was 1.017 (95% CI: 1.005-1.030). Only the severity of OSA was significantly different between the underestimated group and the adequately assessed group. In conclusion, a high AHI, but not BMI, is associated with an underestimated CPAP titration pressure in adult patients with OSA.

0526 Effect of Body Position and Sleep State on Sleep Disordered Breathing Distribution in Infants Ages 6 to 12 months

Abstract Introduction The effect of body position and sleep state on events distribution in infants ages 6 to 12 months needs further study. We aimed to study this distribution and determine the difference of body position in infants with and without sleep disordered breathing. Methods This was a single center, retrospective study that included infants ages 6 to 12 months who were evaluated for suspected sleep disordered breathing and underwent a full overnight polysomnography in an academic sleep disorders center over a period of 10 years. Infants with ages 6 to 12 months with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) and central apnea index (CAI) ≥ 1 (sleep disordered breathing [SDB] group) were compared with infants with normal AHI who represented the control group (CG). Total OAHI, CAI, apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in different body positions, rapid eye movement (REM), and Non-REM sleep were collected. Results A total of 36 infants had SDB and 18 infants had normal AHI. The median age was not significantly different between both groups with a median age of 10 months (IQR 7.75-11) in SDB group and 8.5 months in CG (IQR 7.25- 10.00) (p=0.258). Male sex was predominant in both groups (58.3% in SDB group and 61.1% in CG). There were no significant differences between both groups in the BMI, median total sleep time, REM% sleep time, and Non-REM% sleep time. The supine sleep time in the SDB group [258.90 minutes (IQR 149.35-381.25)] was significantly higher than the supine sleep time in the CG [165.90 minutes (IQR 54.55 to 285.05)] (p=0.035). In the SDB group, REM AHI [8.55 (IQR 5.02 – 15.25] was significantly higher than Non-REM AHI [0.50 (IQR 0.30-1.20)] (p&amp;lt; 0.001). In the SDB group, there were no significant differences in the supine vs. off-supine distribution of respiratory events. Conclusion Obstructive and central respiratory events in infants ages 6 to 12 months occurred predominantly in REM sleep compared to Non-REM sleep. Infants with SDB significantly spent more time in supine position when compared to infants without SDB but the respiratory events distribution in infants with SDB did not have a significant positional distribution. Support (if any)

0535 Impact of hypoglossal nerve stimulation surgery alone on sleep disordered breathing and sleepiness

Abstract Introduction Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HNS) is an established option for CPAP -intolerant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, with multiple studies demonstrating safety and effectiveness. There are known nightly variations in OSA severity. We aimed to determine if device implant alone (with therapy off) compared to baseline influenced sleep disordered breathing and daytime sleepiness. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of the STAR (Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction) Trial, conducted from 2010-2016, that led to FDA approval HNS. Data was collected at a pre-implant screening, and post-implant prior to device activation (therapy off). Each visit included an attended polysomnography (PSG) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). PSGs were scored by a central core lab. Results There were 126 participants (83% male), age 55 ± 10 years. The time between pre-implant baseline screening and device activation visit averaged 88 ± 29 days. BMI was 28 ± 3 at baseline and 28 ± 3 post-implant with therapy off. The pre and post-implant Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)s were similar (32 ± 9 vs 32 ± 9 events/hour, p=0.82). The two-night AHI ranged from 13 to 65. The average AHI change between pre-implant and post-implant (therapy off) was -0.3 ± 17 events/hour. The Sher 20 response rate between pre-implant and post-implant therapy off was 13%. By comparison, previously published mean AHI with therapy activated was approximately 10-15 events/hour, and Sher 20 response rates ranged between 65%-75%. ESS pre and post-implant (therapy off) were similar (12 ± 5 vs 11 ± 5, p=0.09), compared to ESS previously reported with HNS therapy activated (typically 6-7). Conclusion The STAR two-night baseline AHIs ranged between 13-65. While there were nightly differences in AHI in some patients, surgical implant of HNS with therapy off, did not result in meaningfully improvement in the AHI, Sher 20 response rate, or ESS. Support (if any) Inspire Medical Systems

Assessment of a novel type of oral appliance for the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a case series

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the respiratory parameters among patients diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome treated with a novel design of an oral appliance (OA): a lingual orthosis.Methods: A case series study was conducted with 11 patients suffering from severe OSA, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) &gt; 30 events/h. All patients underwent pre- and post-treatment overnight polysomnography and were diagnosed by a physician based on polysomnography indexes. All selected patients had a history of nonadherence to continuous positive airway pressure devices.Results: Before treatment, the mean AHI of the sample was 65.9 ± 30.5. After reaching the optimal OA titration, the polysomnography (PSG) showed an average AHI of 10.1 ± 5.5 (p&lt;0.001). There was a significant reduction in obstructive events that decreased from 60.0 ± 31.7 to 8.5 ± 3.8 events/hour (p&lt;0.001). The minimal oxyhemoglobin saturation showed significant improvement after the OA treatment, increasing from 74.3 ± 7.8 to 83.4 ± 4.9 (p&lt;0.05).Conclusion: Lingual orthosis was effective in resolving severe OSAS, showing satisfactory results within the present sample. Further studies are needed in order to broaden the knowledge regarding the effectiveness of this oral appliance.Uniterms: Sleep apnea, obstructive. Orthotic devices. Case reports.

Epiglottopexy for refractory obstructive sleep apnea in children – A single-institution experience

BackgroundRefractory obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in children with medical comorbidities, leading to a significant impact on quality of life. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) has become the standard of care in identifying the levels of obstruction in children with refractory OSA. Epiglottopexy has been shown to improve OSA symptoms in adults and healthy children with epiglottic prolapse in a few studies, with minimal long-term complications. The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of epiglottopexy in children with refractory OSA. MethodsA retrospective chart review of children with refractory OSA who were found to have epiglottic prolapse on DISE, and underwent epiglottopexy between January 2018 and November 2021 at a pediatric tertiary care hospital. Results42 patients (age 8.1 ± 5.1 years) met inclusion criteria. Thirty patients (71.4 %) suffered from neurodevelopmental disease or congenital syndrome, and 14 patients (33.3 %) were gastrostomy-tube dependent. All patients had at least one prior surgical procedure to address their OSA. Thirty-six patients (85.7 %) were diagnosed with refractory OSA by polysomnography prior to surgery, with an average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 12.4 ± 9.7/h. Forty patients (95.2 %) required an additional procedure in conjunction with epiglottopexy including lingual tonsillectomy (n = 27, 64.3 %), supraglottoplasty (n = 14, 33.3 %), tonsillectomy with or without revision adenoidectomy (n = 9, 21.4 %) and tongue base suspension (n = 1, 2.4 %). Twenty-one patients had repeated polysomnography; 4 patients were found to have residual severe OSA post-operatively (average AHI 17.4 ± 11.4/h), while the remaining patients demonstrated clinical improvement and a significant reduction in OSA severity, with an average AHI of 1.5 ± 2.2/h. Regression analysis identified pre-operative oxygen nadir <75 % to be associated with residual OSA postoperatively. Following surgery, 7 patients were found to have new-onset or worsening dysphagia, 6 of whom were diagnosed with complex medical comorbidities. ConclusionsEpiglottopexy, as part of multi-level airway surgery, is associated with a significant improvement in the severity of refractory OSA. Dysphagia may complicate the post-operative course, particularly in children with medical comorbidities.

Retinal vascular fractal dimension measurements in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a retrospective case-control study.

We performed a case-control study to investigate the correlation between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the retinal vascular fractal dimension (FD). We selected 527 individuals who underwent polysomnography during health checkups at the Huadong Sanatorium from January to December 2021 as the study population, of whom 468 were included and 59 were excluded. All participants underwent a detailed health examination, including medical history assessment, physical examination, assessment of lifestyle factors, fundus photography, and laboratory examinations. The retinal vasculature was quantitatively assessed using Singapore I Vessel Assessment (SIVA) software. The relationship between the AHI and the retinal vessel quantitative was examined by multiple linear regression analyses and restricted cubic spline. Among the 468 studied individuals, the average age was 51.51 (43-58) years, with 369 (78.85%) men and 99 (21.15%) women. According to the AHI indicator, 355 individuals were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, with an average AHI of 17.00 (9.200-30.130) events/h; 113 individuals were classified as controls, with an average AHI of 2.13 (0.88-3.63) events/h. In multiple linear regression, following varying degrees of adjustment for confounding factors, FD was reduced by 0.013 (P = .012; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.024 to -0.003), FD arteriole (FDa) was reduced by 0.013 (P = .019; 95% CI: -0.024 to -0.002), and FD venule (FDv) was reduced by 0.014 (P = .08; 95% CI: -0.024 to -0.004) in the high-AHI group compared with the low-AHI group. All tests for trend P values were < .05. The restricted cubic spline in the overall OSA population and the individuals without diabetes revealed a U-shaped pattern of decreasing, then increasing, FD, FDa, and FDv with a rising AHI. In the OSA individual with diabetes, FD, FDa, and FDv gradually decreased with increasing AHI. The FD is associated with AHI in OSA individuals. The link between AHI and FD varied for OSA individuals with and without diabetes. Wang J, Chen T, Qi X, Li Y, Yang X, Meng X. Retinal vascular fractal dimension measurements in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a retrospective case-control study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(3):479-490.

Associations between risk of Alzheimer's disease and obstructive sleep apnea, intermittent hypoxia, and arousal responses: A pilot study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, potential associations among sleep-disordered breathing, hypoxia, and OSA-induced arousal responses should be investigated. This study determined differences in sleep parameters and investigated the relationship between such parameters and the risk of AD. Patients with suspected OSA were recruited and underwent in-lab polysomnography (PSG). Subsequently, blood samples were collected from participants. Patients' plasma levels of total tau (T-Tau) and amyloid beta-peptide 42 (Aβ42) were measured using an ultrasensitive immunomagnetic reduction assay. Next, the participants were categorized into low- and high-risk groups on the basis of the computed product (Aβ42 × T-Tau, the cutoff for AD risk). PSG parameters were analyzed and compared. We included 36 patients in this study, of whom 18 and 18 were assigned to the low- and high-risk groups, respectively. The average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), apnea, hypopnea index [during rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep], and oxygen desaturation index (≥3%, ODI-3%) values of the high-risk group were significantly higher than those of the low-risk group. Similarly, the mean arousal index and respiratory arousal index (R-ArI) of the high-risk group were significantly higher than those of the low-risk group. Sleep-disordered breathing indices, oxygen desaturation, and arousal responses were significantly associated with an increased risk of AD. Positive associations were observed among the AHI, ODI-3%, R-ArI, and computed product. Recurrent sleep-disordered breathing, intermittent hypoxia, and arousal responses, including those occurring during the NREM stage, were associated with AD risk. However, a longitudinal study should be conducted to investigate the causal relationships among these factors.

Sleep Respiratory Disturbances in Girls with Rett Syndrome.

Individuals with Rett Syndrome (RTT), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, present disordered breathing during wakefulness. Whilst findings on breathing during sleep are contradictory, the relation between sleep breathing and their clinical features, genetic characteristics, age, and sleep phase is rarely investigated, which is the objective of this study. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) was performed. Sleep macrostructure parameters were compared between the RTT subjects with and without sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The association between the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) with age at PSG was tested. Particularly for RTT subjects with SDB, the respiratory indexes in REM and NREM sleep were compared. Stratified analyses per clinical characteristics, genetic characteristics, and clinical features’ severity were performed. Non-parametric statistics were applied. A sample of 11 female RTT subjects, aged 8.69 ± 5.29 years with ten confirmed with MECP2 mutations, were studied. The average AHI was 3.94 ± 1.19/h TST, of which eight (72.73%) had obstructive sleep apnea, i.e., six in 1/h TST ≤ AHI ≤ 5/h TST, and two in AHI > 5/h TST. The mean SpO2% was 81.00 ± 35.15%. The AHI was not significantly correlated with their age at PSG (rs = −0.15, p = 0.67). Sleep macrostructure in SDB-absent and SDB-present groups was not different. Respiratory indexes in those with obstructive sleep apnea showed no difference between REM and NREM sleep nor any of the strata. In our clinical sample, more than half of the RTT subjects with MECP2 mutations had obstructive sleep apnea in both NREM and REM sleep which was unrelated to their clinical features. Our results also indicated hypoxemia throughout nocturnal sleep in RTT. To conclude, our results suggest that disordered breathing during sleep is prevalently present in RTT as an independent clinical feature.

Matched Cohort Study of Radiographic Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence and Tegmen Dehiscence and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

To report the frequency of radiographic superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) and tegmen dehiscence in patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Retrospective matched cohort study. Tertiary care center. Adults with OSA and fine-cut computed tomographic scans including the temporal bone were matched to patients without OSA by age, sex, and type of computed tomography (protocol, scanner type, slice thickness). Ears with otologic surgery or temporal bone tumors were excluded. Prevalence of SSCD and tegmen dehiscence assessed by two independent reviewers. The average body mass index of the OSA patients was 29.2 kg/m 2 with an average apnea-hypopnea index of 36.8. The control group had an average body mass index of 26.2 kg/m 2 . Of the 352 temporal bones, 34 (9.7%) had SSCD in the OSA cohort versus 37 (10.5%) in the control group ( p > 0.05). Seven OSA patients (25.6% of those with SSCD) had bilateral SSCD versus 8 controls (27.6% of those with SSCD; p > 0.05). The majority (87.3%) of dehiscences involved the temporal lobe, with the remaining involving the superior petrosal sinus or both. Of the 352 OSA ears, 90 (25.6%) had a tegmen dehiscence versus 95 (27.0%) in the control group ( p > 0.05). Neither group had a laterality preference for SSCD or tegmen dehiscence. The prevalence of radiographic SSCD and tegmen dehiscences in OSA patients does not significantly differ from age- and sex-matched controls. This is in contrast to a previous case-control study finding patients with symptomatic SSCD to have higher rates of OSA. This may suggest that the effect size of OSA on SSCD prevalence may be limited despite OSA being a risk factor for elevated intracranial pressure.