No Difference In Sleep Of OSA Patients Studied In A Hospital Vs. A Hotel-Based Sleep Center

Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 16 Apr 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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A study published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM) finds no significant difference in sleep parameters associated with the first-night effect in patients undergoing sleep studies in a hotel and a hospital-based sleep laboratory.

Kimberly N. Hutchison, MD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., reviewed polysomnograms, or sleep tests, completed in their hotel-based and hospital-based sleep laboratories over a two-year period. All patients were undergoing evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Hutchison and her colleagues compared the sleep architecture changes associated with the first-night effect in the two groups.

According to the results, no significant differences were detected between the two groups in sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, REM sleep latency, total amount of slow wave sleep, and total stage 1 sleep. There was also no difference detected in arousal index between the two groups.

"Hotel-based sleep laboratories are growing. It is not known how this new environment will affect clinical studies," said Dr. Hutchison. "This study is meaningful because it suggests that the increased comfort and familiarity offered by a hotel setting doesn't necessarily change the sleep architecture, at least in our patient subgroup (patients referred for suspected sleep apnea). Perhaps our patients are more familiar with a hospital rather than a hotel!"

OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes your body to stop breathing during sleep. OSA occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway. This keeps air from getting into the lungs. It is estimated that four percent of men and two percent of women have OSA, and millions more remain undiagnosed.

On average, most adults need seven to eight hours of nightly sleep to feel alert and well-rested.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) offers the following tips on how to get a good night's sleep:

• Follow a consistent bedtime routine.
  
  
• Establish a relaxing setting at bedtime.
  
  
• Get a full night's sleep every night.
  
  
• Avoid foods or drinks that contain caffeine, as well as any medicine that has a stimulant, prior to bedtime.
  
  
• Do not bring your worries to bed with you.
  
  
• Do not go to bed hungry, but don't eat a big meal before bedtime either.
  
  
• Avoid any rigorous exercise within six hours of your bedtime.
  
  
• Make your bedroom quiet, dark and a little bit cool.
  
  
• Get up at the same time every morning.

First introduced as a treatment option for sleep apnea in 1981, CPAP is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. CPAP provides a steady stream of pressurized air to patients through a mask that they wear during sleep. This airflow keeps the airway open, preventing the pauses in breathing that characterize sleep apnea and restoring normal oxygen levels.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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CPAP Central http://www.sleepeducation.com/CPAPCentral), a Web site created by the AASM, provides the public with comprehensive, accurate and reliable information about CPAP. CPAP Central includes expanded information about OSA and CPAP, including how OSA is diagnosed, the function of CPAP, the benefits of CPAP and an overview of what to expect when beginning CPAP, the position of experts on CPAP, and tools for success. CPAP Central also features an interactive slide set that educates the public about the warning signs of OSA.

Those who think they might have OSA, or another sleep disorder, are urged to consult with their primary care physician or a sleep specialist.

JCSM is the official publication of the AASM. It contains published papers related to the clinical practice of sleep medicine, including original manuscripts such as clinical trials, clinical reviews, clinical commentary and debate, medical economic/practice perspectives, case series and novel/interesting case reports.

More information about OSA is available from the AASM at http://www.sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=7.

SleepEducation.com, a patient education Web site created by the AASM, provides information about various sleep disorders, the forms of treatment available, recent news on the topic of sleep, sleep studies that have been conducted and a listing of sleep facilities.

Article, entitled, "Analysis of Sleep Parameters in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Studied in a Hospital vs. a Hotel-Based Sleep Center"

SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies and the world's largest annual gathering of sleep scientists and sleep medicine professionals, will take place in Baltimore, Maryland, from June 9-12, 2008. SLEEP 2008 will bring together an international body of 5,000 leading researchers and clinicians, who will present and discuss over 1,100 new findings and medical developments related to sleep and sleep disorders. More details, including the program schedule and a list of invited lecturers, are available at http://www.sleepmeeting.org/.

Source: Jim Arcuri
American Academy of Sleep Medicine