Sleep Apnea Patients Research Articles

Computational analysis on 3D airway model of obstructive sleep apnea patient for optimal maxillomandibular advancement.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have many adverse effects on people's health, including cognitive decline and high blood pressure. Typical surgical treatment methods include the commonly performed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and the highly successful maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). These surgical methods are more effective than non-surgical methods because they widen the airway where a collapse has occurred through direct treatment. However, few studies has shown that moving the upper and lower jaws in a specific manner is the most efficient way to treat OSA during an MMA surgery. In this study, the airway of an OSA patient was reproduced digitally, and computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed on various models with changed airway shapes, including the original model based on an actual CT image and three resizing models of the retropalatal (RP) and retroglossal (RG) regions of the airway. Consequently, it was possible to provide more quantitative predicted flow data, which could be helpful in performing sophisticated OSA surgery. Among the four airway models of the OSA patient, a reduction in the epiglottis regional pressure difference of up to 40.2% was evident in the model with an expanded RG region, and a reduction in the wall shear stress of up to 25.8% was confirmed. The proposed process could be an important aid for surgeons in determining the optimal surgical method suitable for an individual patient's uniquely-shaped airway.

Anthropometric Indices of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients in Mauritius.

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder, affecting a significant number of individuals globally.It is associated with poor quality of life and an increased risk of all-cause mortality. It is estimated that most of the patients suffering from OSA are obese. Anthropometric indices can help guide doctors towardthe diagnosis. Objectives This study aimed to establish specific anthropometric thresholds associated with OSA risk, allowing clinicians to identify individuals more likely to have OSA and who may need further evaluation, such as polysomnography. This targeted screening approach would enable better resource allocation to those at higher risk, potentially enhancing the efficiency of OSA diagnosis and management. Methods We conducted a descriptive study using data from the sole private sleep clinic in Mauritius. We analyzed case files of consecutive patients diagnosed with OSA over a 3.5-year period from January 2015 to June 2018. Results The study population comprised 170 patients (79.4% males) diagnosed with OSA by a polygraphy test.The mean age of OSA diagnosis in men and women was 51.7 ± 14.0 years and 53.8 ± 12.5 years, respectively.The mean neck circumference (NC) for males and females was 41.9 ± 3.9 cm and 38.2 ± 3.9 cm, while the mean waist circumference (WC) was 105.6 ± 12.2 cm for men and 103.4 ± 14.5 cm for women. The body mass index (BMI) was 29.1± 5.0 kg/m2 and 31.4± 6.8 kg/m2 for males and females, respectively. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) averaged to 42.1 ± 19.7 events/hour for men and 33.3 ± 16.4 events/hour for women.In male patients, we found a positive significant correlation (p<0.001) between AHI and the following parameters: BMI (r=0.443), WC(r=0.337), WC-to-height ratio (WHr) (r=0.378), NC(r =0.274), and neck-to-height ratio (NHr) (r =0.321).In women, we observed a positive significant correlation between apnea severity and the following: BMI (r=0.396, p=0.029), WC (r=0.462, p=0.005), and WHr (r=0.494, p=0.003).No significant relationships were observed between AHI and the following parameters in women: NC (r=0.317, p=0.064) and NHr (r=0.311, p=0.069). A total of 83.5% of patients had a Mallampati score of 3-4. Conclusion This study represents a pioneering effort on the island. While further research is necessary to establish exact anthropometric cutoff values, the findings offer crucial insights for physicians to identify high-risk individuals. With just a scale, measuring tape, and calculator, healthcare professionals can detect important health markers that extend beyond diagnosing OSA. These simple measurements not only help in predicting OSA but also provide a broader view of an individual's overall health, identifying risks that go beyond sleep issues. This research sets an important foundation for future OSA studies within the Mauritian population.

A comparative analysis of unsupervised machine-learning methods in PSG-related phenotyping.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a heterogeneous sleep disorder with varying phenotypes. Several studies have already performed cluster analyses to discover various obstructive sleep apnea phenotypic clusters. However, the selection of the clustering method might affect the outputs. Consequently, it is unclear whether similar obstructive sleep apnea clusters can be reproduced using different clustering methods. In this study, we applied four well-known clustering methods: Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering; K-means; Fuzzy C-means; and Gaussian Mixture Model to a population of 865 suspected obstructive sleep apnea patients. By creating five clusters with each method, we examined the effect of clustering methods on forming obstructive sleep apnea clusters and the differences in their physiological characteristics. We utilized a visualization technique to indicate the cluster formations, Cohen's kappa statistics to find the similarity and agreement between clustering methods, and performance evaluation to compare the clustering performance. As a result, two out of five clusters were distinctly different with all four methods, while three other clusters exhibited overlapping features across all methods. In terms of agreement, Fuzzy C-means and K-means had the strongest (κ = 0.87), and Agglomerative hierarchical clustering and Gaussian Mixture Model had the weakest agreement (κ = 0.51) between each other. The K-means showed the best clustering performance, followed by the Fuzzy C-means in most evaluation criteria. Moreover, Fuzzy C-means showed the greatest potential in handling overlapping clusters compared with other methods. In conclusion, we revealed a direct impact of clustering method selection on the formation and physiological characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea clusters. In addition, we highlighted the capability of soft clustering methods, particularly Fuzzy C-means, in the application of obstructive sleep apnea phenotyping.

Impact of Exclusive Mouth Route and lateral position on the efficacy of oronasal CPAP to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Adapted to Oronasal Mask

BackgroundOronasal masks are widely used for treating OSA with CPAP. However, oronasal CPAP is associated with lower effectiveness and lower adherence than nasal CPAP. Research QuestionWhat is the impact of oral route and lateral position in patients well adapted to oronasal CPAP? Can these patients be switched to nasal CPAP? Study Design and MethodsPatients with OSA on oronasal CPAP underwent 2 CPAP polysomnography (PSG) titrations in random order using an oronasal mask with 2 independent sealed compartments connected to two separate pneumotachographs. One study was done with the nasal and oral compartments opened and the other study with only the oral compartment opened. CPAP titration was done in the supine and lateral position. Finally, the patients were offered a nasal mask. A third PSG was performed using nasal CPAP. ResultsTwenty OSA patients (baseline AHI: 52 ± 21 events/h) adapted to oronasal CPAP were studied. Most patients (75%) were oronasal breathers on optimal CPAP. Oral CPAP was less effective to treat OSA than oronasal CPAP, evidenced by a higher residual AHI (2 (1 - 6.0) vs 12.5 (1.8 - 28.3); P = 0.003), despite a significantly higher CPAP level, (10 (9 - 10) vs 11 (10 - 12) cmH20; P = 0.003). The residual AHI was significantly lower in the lateral position for both oronasal and oral CPAP. Finally, patients (75%) agreed to change and preferred to continue on nasal mask, which resulted in lower CPAP and better OSA control. InterpretationThe effectiveness of oronasal CPAP to abolish OSA is significantly decreased when patients are required to breathe exclusively through the mouth. Oronasal CPAP efficacy is significantly better in the lateral position. The transition to nasal mask results in higher CPAP effectiveness to treat OSA.

Tracking continuous positive airway pressure adherence in obstructive sleep apnea patients before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract: BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy among Saudi patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It also sought to assess the influence of demographic variables and comorbidities on CPAP adherence. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the University Sleep Disorders Center at King Saud University Medical City. The study included 67 OSA patients who exclusively used CPAP for treatment across three distinct intervals prelockdown, during lockdown, and postlockdown. Adherence to CPAP therapy was objectively measured using “mask-on on-time monitoring” data from the CPAP machines. RESULTS: The study found a significant decrease in the number of days with CPAP usage during the lockdown period, which persisted postlockdown. Approximately half of the patients adhered to CPAP treatment throughout the three study intervals. The decrease in CPAP usage days during lockdown was particularly noticeable among patients younger than 50 and older than 65 years of age. The presence of comorbidities, body mass index, and sex did not significantly influence CPAP treatment adherence. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 lockdown significantly impacted CPAP treatment adherence among OSA patients, with a decrease in adherence persisting postlockdown. This highlights the need for interventions to support CPAP adherence during challenging times such as a pandemic. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic on CPAP therapy adherence.

‘Selected’ Exosomes from Sera of Elderly Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Their Impact on Blood–Brain Barrier Function: A Preliminary Report

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects a large part of the aging population. It is characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia and associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. One hypothesis is that the blood–brain barrier (BBB) functions could be altered by exosomes. Exosomes are nanovesicles found in biological fluids. Through the study of exosomes and their content in tau and amyloid beta (Aβ), the aim of this study was to show how exosomes could be used as biomarkers of OSAS and of their cognitive disorders. Two groups of 15 volunteers from the PROOF cohort were selected: severe apnea (AHI &gt; 30) and control (AHI &lt; 5). After exosome isolation from blood serum, we characterized and quantified them (CD81, CD9, CD63) by western blot and ELISAs and put them 5 h in contact with an in vitro BBB model. The apparent permeability of the BBB was measured using sodium-fluorescein and TEER. Cell ELISAs were performed on tight junctions (ZO-1, claudin-5, occludin). The amount of tau and Aβ proteins found in the exosomes was quantified using ELISAs. Compared to controls, OSAS patients had a greater quantity of exosomes, tau, and Aβ proteins in their blood sera, which induced an increase in BBB permeability in the model and was reflected by a loss of tight junction’ expression. Elderly patients suffering severe OSAS released more exosomes in serum from the brain compartment than controls. Such exosomes increased BBB permeability. The impact of such alterations on the risk of developing cognitive dysfunction and/or neurodegenerative diseases is questioned.

The Success of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in Adult Orthodontics: A Literature Review

This literature review examines the success and effectiveness of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in adult orthodontics. Traditional methods like Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (SARPE) have been commonly used for treating transverse maxillary deficiencies in adults, but they come with significant drawbacks, including higher biological and financial costs. MARPE, which utilizes mini screws to apply controlled forces for palatal expansion, offers a less invasive and more precise alternative. The review analyzes several studies and reports on MARPE's success in expanding skeletal and dental structures, improving respiratory function in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, and minimizing complications like unwanted tooth movement. Despite some challenges, such as asymmetrical expansion, MARPE has demonstrated a high success rate in adult orthodontics and presents a promising treatment option. Further high-quality, long-term studies are recommended to optimize treatment protocols and evaluate potential risks.

Prognostic implications of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with unstable angina stratified by remnant cholesterol and triglyceride: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe prognostic significance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with unstable angina (UA) based on remnant cholesterol (RC) or triglyceride (TG) levels remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the interaction between RC, TG, and OSA on cardiovascular outcomes in UA patients.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, OSA was diagnosed when apnea-hypopnea index of ≥ 15 events/h. Patients with high RC (HRC, n = 370) or high TG (HTG, n = 362) included RC or TG in the highest tertile, and those in the middle and lowest tertiles were defined as normal RC (NRC, n = 736) or normal TG (NTG, n = 744). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, ischemia stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization, or hospitalization for UA.ResultsA total of 1,106 eligible UA patients were enrolled, among which 560 (50.6%) had OSA. RC and TG levels were increased in OSA patients, but there was no difference in the prevalence of OSA between the NRC and HRC or NTG and HTG groups. During a median follow-up of 1.9 (1.1, 3.0) years, OSA was associated with an increased risk of MACCE occurrence compared to non-OSA in UA patients with HRC (adjusted HR 2.06; 95% CI 1.20–3.51, P = 0.008), but not in those with NRC (adjusted HR 1.21; 95% CI 0.84–1.75, P = 0.297). The incremental risk in HRC was attributable to higher rates of hospitalization for UA and ischemia-driven revascularization. Results for HTG and NTG were similar.ConclusionOSA was associated with a worse prognosis in UA patients with HRC or HTG, emphasizing the necessity of identifying OSA presence in this population.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov; No: NCT03362385.

Best perioperative practices in the management of obstructive sleep apnea patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.

This review is timely due to the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among patients undergoing ambulatory surgery, necessitating updated perioperative management strategies to improve outcomes and reduce complications. Recent studies emphasize the importance of risk stratification using tools like STOP-Bang, highlighting the association between high-risk OSA and increased perioperative complications. Intraoperative management strategies, including the preference for regional anesthesia and careful monitoring of neuromuscular blockade, have been shown to mitigate risks. Postoperative protocols, particularly continuous monitoring, are crucial in preventing opioid-induced respiratory depression. Effective management of OSA in ambulatory surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing preoperative screening, tailored intraoperative techniques, and vigilant postoperative monitoring. Implementing guidelines and protocols can significantly enhance patient safety and outcomes.

Comparison of postoperative bleeding in pediatric tonsillectomy versus tonsillotomy

ObjectiveTonsillar surgery is a common intervention for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and recurrent tonsillitis. This study compared postoperative bleeding incidence and severity following tonsillotomy and tonsillectomy at a single medical center. Study designA retrospective cohort study on 1984 pediatric patients (1–18 years old) who underwent surgery during 2004–2011 and 2019–2022. Tonsillectomy was performed during 2004–2011, while tonsillotomy was preferred for obstructive sleep apnea during 2019–2022. Tonsillectomy was performed using cold steel technique with complete removal of tonsillar tissue, while tonsillotomy was conducted using mono- or bipolar diathermy, preserving minimal tissue on the tonsillar capsule. SettingShaare-Zedek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University. MethodsOutcome measures included postoperative bleeding incidence and severity, surgery duration, hospitalization length, and readmission. ResultsTonsillotomy was conducted on 958 (48.3 %) patients, and tonsillectomy was performed on 1026 (51.7 %) patients. Obstructive sleep apnea was the only indication in 1553 (78.3 %) patients. Overall bleeding rate was lower following tonsillotomy (3.9 %) than tonsillectomy (9.5 %) (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients required surgical bleeding control post-tonsillectomy than post-tonsillotomy: 39 (3.7 %) vs. 5 (0.5 %), respectively (p < 0.001). Tonsillectomy resulted in higher readmission rates (11.8 % vs 6.1 %, p < 0.001), more blood transfusions (3 vs. 0), and higher postoperative hemoglobin diminution (1.57 ± 2 vs. 0.94 ± 1 g/dL, p = 0.035). The duration of the surgery was shorter for tonsillotomy (24.7 vs 26.5 min, p = 0.012). Tonsillectomy sustained higher bleeding rates for obstructive sleep apnea patients (7.0 % vs 3.9 %, p = 0.006). For recurrent tonsillitis patients, bleeding rates did not vary between year groups. Older age and tonsillectomy were the most significant risk factors for postoperative bleeding. ConclusionAmong children undergoing tonsillar surgery for obstructive sleep apnea, tonsillotomy was associated with a safer postoperative bleeding profile, reduced bleeding severity, and fewer readmissions compared to tonsillectomy.

Pitolisant 40 mg for excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea patients treated or not by CPAP: Randomised phase 3 study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome commonly leads to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Pitolisant, a selective histamine-3 receptor antagonist, is efficacious at doses up to 20 mg once daily in OSA treated or not with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). We assessed the efficacy and safety of pitolisant at doses up to 40 mg once daily in patients with moderate to severe OSA treated or not with CPAP therapy. In this phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, patients with OSA were assigned 2:1 to receive pitolisant (according to an individual up-titration scheme, 10, 20 or 40 mg once daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score from baseline to week 12. Secondary endpoints included a change in reaction time using the Oxford Sleep Resistance test (OSleR), Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C), and Patient's Global Opinion of the Effect (PGOE) of study treatment. Overall, 361 patients (mean age 52.4 years, 77.3% male; mean apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 27.0 events/h) were randomised to receive pitolisant (n = 242; 50% received CPAP) or placebo (n = 119; 48.7% CPAP). After the dose-adjustment phase (week 3), 88.8% of patients received pitolisant 40 mg. Compared with placebo, pitolisant produced a significant reduction in the ESS score at week 12 (least square mean difference -2.6 (95% CI: -3.4; -1.8; p < 0.001)) irrespective of CPAP use; and improved the reaction time on OSleR, CGI-C, and PGOE at week 12. Pitolisant was well tolerated; no new safety signals were identified. In conclusion, pitolisant up to 40 mg once daily was an effective treatment for EDS in patients with moderate to severe OSA irrespective of CPAP use.

Circadian clock dysregulation: a potential mechanism of depression in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by co-occurrence with affective disorders. Our study aims to investigate the association of circadian clock gene expressions, and the presence and severity of depressive symptoms in OSA patients. The study included 184 individuals, who underwent polysomnography (PSG) and had their peripheral blood collected in the evening before and the morning after the PSG. Patients were divided into two groups: the OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 5) and the control group (AHI < 5). RNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Expression levels of the selected genes (BMAL1, CLOCK, PER1, CRY1, NPAS2, and NR1D1) were assessed by qRT-PCR. Questionnaire data was collected in the morning (including the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Chronotype Questionnaire (CQ), and Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)). The expression of all examined circadian clock genes in OSA patients was upregulated in the morning compared to the evening (except NPAS2). No differences were observed between OSA and control groups at either time point. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the severity of depressive symptoms (assessed with MADRS) and morning expression of circadian genes in the group of OSA patients. Finally, in multivariable linear regression, ISI score (B = 0.750, p < 0.001), AM score of CQ (B = 0.416, p = 0.007), and morning PER1 gene expression (B = 4.310, p = 0.042) were found to be predictive factors for greater severity of depression symptoms in OSA patients. Dysregulated circadian clock gene expression in OSA patients is linked to depressive symptom severity, suggesting circadian disruption may underlie affective symptoms in OSA.

Clinical characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea patients with residual sleepiness

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis examines the clinical characteristics of CPAP-treated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with residual excessive sleepiness (RES).MethodWe conducted a search for articles published from inception to March 16, 2024, in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis.ResultsThe meta-analysis revealed that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-treated OSA patients with RES were characterized by higher Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Depression Scale scores, lower body mass index (BMI) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) before CPAP treatment. RES patients also exhibit poorer CPAP adherence. Being female was also associated with RES.ConclusionBeing female, having lower BMI and AHI, and more severe daytime sleepiness and depressive symptoms before CPAP treatment, and lower CPAP adherence were characteristics of OSA patients with RES. These factors may prove helpful in identifying CPAP-treated OSA patients who may need additional treatment to minimize RES.

The association between endothelial dysfunction and subclinical myocardial injury in male OSA patients

BackgroundEndothelial dysfunction was shown to contribute significantly to the elevated cardiovascular risk observed in the general population. However, the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and subclinical myocardial injury in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients remains unclear.MethodsThis cross-sectional study recruited 165 consecutive male patients diagnosed with OSA. All participants underwent overnight polysomnography to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of OSA. Subclinical myocardial injury was evaluated using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) measurements, while endothelial dysfunction was assessed through the peripheral arterial tonometry.ResultsEndothelial dysfunction was present in 80 (48.5%) of the subjects. Hs-cTnI was detectable in 147 (89.1%) of the participants. When compared to OSA patients without endothelial dysfunction, those with endothelial dysfunction exhibited significantly lower percentages of hypertension (23.8%versus43.5%, p=0.007) and abdominal obesity (76.3%versus88.2%, p=0.043). Patients with endothelial dysfunction frequently manifest a lower apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index. Despite comparable median hs-cTnI levels, a higher proportion of subjects with detectable hs-cTnI levels was observed among those with endothelial dysfunction (95%versus83.5%, p=0.018). Logistic regression analysis indicated that endothelial dysfunction was significantly associated with a detectable level of hs-cTnI after adjustment for multiple confounders.ConclusionsIn male OSA patients, endothelial dysfunction appears to be potentially correlated with an increased risk of subclinical myocardial injury, as evidenced by the higher prevalence of detectable hs-cTnI levels. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the role of endothelial dysfunction in predicting future cardiovascular mortality in this population.

Incident Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism following COVID-19 Infection

Incident Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism following COVID-19 Infection

Evaluation of oral appliance therapy for sleep apnoea patients

Evaluation of oral appliance therapy for sleep apnoea patients

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Difficult to Treat Asthma

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Difficult to Treat Asthma

The Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D, Calcium, and Parathyroid Hormone Levels of The Patients With The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Background: Although there is evidence linking vitamin D to many neurochemical processes involved in sleep, the association between the obstructive sleep apnea and vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone is still unknown, as clinical research have shown inconsistent findings. In this study, we aimed to examine the hypothesis that if there is any relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and serum vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels in order to manage treatment. Methods: 56 patients (32 male, 24 female) admitted to the University of Health Sciences Adana City Training and Research Hospital otorhinolaryngology clinic between January 1st, 2022 and January 1st 2023 without any acute and chronic disease were included in the study. The range of participants was 18-70. In this study we examined the serum vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels of 32 obstructive sleep apnea patients and compared their serum vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels with the serum vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels of 24 normal patients in the control group. Results: When the serum vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels of obstructive sleep apnea patients and serum vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels of normal patients were compared we did not find a statistically significant difference which may be due to our patient density. Conclusion: Vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone levels are not likely related to the presence or absence of obstructive sleep apnea. More intervention studies are needed to better clarify the relation between the obstructive sleep apnea and vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone.

Cortical activation during the verbal fluency task for obstructive sleep apnea patients with depressive symptoms: A multi-channel fNIRS study.

The aim of our study was to elucidate differences in brain activity patterns among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, OSA patients with depressive symptoms, and healthy controls (HCs). We also investigated the relationship between brain function and depression in OSA patients. A total of 95 subjects were included in the study, including 34 OSA patients without depressive symptoms, 31 OSA patients with depressive symptoms, and 30 HCs. The 53-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to monitor the concentration of oxy-hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) in the brain, whereas the participants performed the verbal fluency task, and the degree of depression was scored using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). Hierarchical regression models were conducted to analyze the association of fNIRS features with depressive symptom. The Oxy-Hb changes of the three groups were significantly different in Channels 25 (H=9.878, p=.007) and 43 (H=6.957, p=.031). Inter-group comparisons showed that the Oxy-Hb change of Channel 25 (located in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [DLPFC]) in OSA group was less than that in HC group (p=.006), and the Oxy-Hb change of Channel 43 (located in the right frontal polar region) in OSA group with depression was less than that in OSA group (p=.025). Spearman's test showed that there was a significant negative correlation between HAMD-17 scores and mean Oxy-Hb changes in Channel 43 (r=-.319, p<.05) in the OSA patients. Using hierarchical regression, Oxy-Hb changes in Channel 43 accounted for a significant proportion of the variation in outcome variables, even when accounting for other polysomnography features. Changes in the hemodynamic response of DLPFC may be a potential mechanism of executive dysfunction in OSA patients. And the right frontal polar region may be significant in assessing depressive symptoms in patients with OSA.

The Swedish sleep apnea registry (SESAR) cohort – “Real world data” on a national level

IntroductionThe Swedish Sleep Apnea Registry (SESAR) collects clinical data from individual obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients since 2010. SESAR has recently been integrated with additional national healthcare data. The current analysis presents the SESAR structure and representative clinical data of a national sleep apnea cohort. MethodsClinical data from unselected patients with a diagnosis of OSA are submitted to the SESAR registry. 48 sleep centers report data from diagnosis, treatment starts with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), oral devices (OD), and Upper Airway Surgery (UAS). Data from follow-up are included. SESAR is linked to mandatory national healthcare data (mortality, comorbidities, procedures, prescriptions) and diagnosis-specific quality registries (e.g. stroke, heart failure, diabetes) within the DISCOVERY project. Results83,404 OSA patients have been reported during the diagnostic workup (age 55.4 ± 14.1 years, BMI 30.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2, AHI 25.8 ± 21.6n/h, respectively). At least one cardiometabolic and respiratory comorbidity is recognized in 57 % of female and 53 % of male OSA patients with a linear increase across OSA severity. In 54,468, 7,797, and 390 patients, start of CPAP, OD or UAS treatment is reported, respectively. OD patients have 4 units lower BMI and 10 units lower AHI compared to patients started on CPAP. UAS patients are characterized by 10 years lower age. The degree of daytime sleepiness is comparable between treatment groups with mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale Scores between 9 and 10. ConclusionSESAR is introduced as a large national registry of OSA patients. SESAR provides a useful tool to highlight OSA management and to perform relevant outcome research.