New Sleep Medicine Research Presented At CHEST 2008

Main Category: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 29 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PST

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#6480 INSOMNIA DOES NOT PREDICT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Difficulty falling asleep may be associated with a lower risk of hypertension than researchers once believed. Researchers from the University of Kentucky proposed the hypothesis that insomnia would predict hypertension, particularly among African-Americans. Data were analyzed from 1,419 older individuals with a mean age of 73.4 years who were not hypertensive at baseline. Researchers found that difficulty falling asleep, alone or in combination with other sleep complaints, predicted a significantly reduced risk of incident hypertension for men who were not African-American over a 6-year period of follow up. Furthermore, insomnia complaints did not predict hypertension in women or in African-Americans, although there may not have been enough power to show a significant association for African-Americans.

#7310 OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID LEVELS MAY AFFECT SLEEP APNEA SEVERITY

The level of omega-3 fatty acids found in a patient's blood may determine the severity of his or her sleep apnea. Researchers from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, tested fatty acid levels in 350 subjects with apnea-hypopnea index scores of 0 to 104. Results showed that lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, was associated with increased apnea severity, even after controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, BMI, fish intake, omega-3 supplementation, flaxseed oil supplementation, and other fatty acids normally present in cellular membranes. Researchers are unclear whether the increased severe apnea induces systemic changes, which lower DHA levels, or whether lower DHA levels might lead to worsening apnea.

#7511 SEDATIVE-HYPNOTIC MEDICATION MAY IMPROVE CPAP COMPLIANCE (Wednesday, October 29, 10:30 AM EST)

The use of sedatives-hypnotic medication could improve patient compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Researchers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, retrospectively reviewed 400 patients who underwent CPAP therapy. Of the variables measured, only age and the use of sedative-hypnotics during CPAP titration polysomnography were associated with better patient compliance. In addition, those who received sedative-hypnotics for polysomnography experienced longer sleep times, greater sleep efficiencies, and improved CPAP titrations. Researchers speculate that improved short-term CPAP compliance may improve long-term compliance.

#7087 BMI MAY PREDICT SLEEP APNEA DIAGNOSIS IN CHILDREN (Wednesday, October 29, 1:00 PM EST)

Physicians may be reluctant to order overnight polysomnography studies in children because of the high cost of the examination or the anxiety that is induced by separating the child from his or her family. New research shows that body mass index (BMI) in children may predict whether they have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which would then warrant overnight polysomnography. Researchers from East Tennessee State University performed a retrospective review of 158 pediatric patients who were tested for OSA in a pediatric sleep lab. Of the patients, 129 had a positive test result for OSA. Of the 129 patients who were positive for OSA, 117 fell in the <5th percentile for BMI or >95th percentile for BMI. Researchers speculate that for children in these two percentile groupings, overnight polysomnography may be warranted to diagnose OSA.

#6936 MOUTH INJECTION PROCEDURE DECREASES SIMPLE SNORING (Wednesday, October 29, 1:00 PM EST)

Snoreplasty, a nonsurgical procedure involving the injection of a hardening agent into the upper palate, may help to reduce simple snoring. Researchers from Egypt enrolled 34 patients with simple snoring in their study. The patients received an average of 1.8 injections of a sclerosing agent in their upper palates. Of the patients, 32 reported a significant decrease in snoring. In addition, no significant postinjection pain or complications were reported. Researchers conclude that injection snoreplasty is a simple, safe, low cost, and effective office treatment for simple snoring.

#6890 SLOW-WAVE SLEEP YIELDS FEWER APNEA EVENTS (Wednesday, October 29, 1:00 PM EST)

Slow-wave sleep (SWS) may have a protective effect for events related to sleep apnea. Researchers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, analyzed the polysomnography results of 20 male and 10 female patients who were previously diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The analysis showed a significant decrease in incidence of apnea events in stages 3 and 4 of SWS when compared with stages 1 and 2 (t(28)=4.36, p<0.01). Researchers speculate that pharmacologically prolonging SWS may help alleviate some of the symptoms of OSA.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Source: Jennifer Stawarz
American College of Chest Physicians