Recommendations for the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension.
This article is aimed at addressing the current state-of-the-art in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic procedures and treatment options for appropriate management of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in cardiovascular (in particular hypertensive) patients, as well as for the management of cardiovascular diseases (in particular arterial hypertension) in OSA patients. The present document is the result of work performed by a panel of experts participating in the European Union COST (Cooperation in Scientific and Technological research) Action B26 on OSA, with the endorsement of the European Respiratory Society and the European Society of Hypertension. In particular, these recommendations …
Mild obstructive sleep apnea increases hypertension risk, challenging traditional severity classification
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The association of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with important clinical outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between mild OSA and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) in the European Sleep Apnea Database cohort. METHODS: In a multicenter sample of 4,732 participants, we analyzed the risk of mild OSA (subclassified into 2 groups: mild(AHI 5-<11/h) (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], 5 to <11 events/h) and mild(AHI 11-<15/h) (AHI, ≥11 to <15 events/h) compared with nonapneic snorers for prevalent SAH after adjustment for relevant confounding factors including sex, age, smoking, obesity, daytime sleepiness, dyslipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmona…
Diabetes mellitus prevalence and control in sleep-disordered breathing: The European Sleep Apnea Cohort (ESADA) study
BACKGROUND: OSA is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity. A driver of this is metabolic dysfunction and in particular type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Prior studies identifying a link between OSA and T2DM have excluded subjects with undiagnosed T2DM, and there is a lack of population-level data on the interaction between OSA and glycemic control among patients with diabetes. We assessed the relationship between OSA severity and T2DM prevalence and control in a large multinational population.METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6,616 participants in the European Sleep Apnea Cohort (ESADA) study, using multivariate regression analysis to assess T2DM prev…
Driving habits and risk factors for traffic accidents among sleep apnea patients - a European multi-centre cohort study
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased motor vehicle accident risk, and improved detection of patients at risk is of importance. The present study addresses potential risk factors in the European Sleep Apnea Database and includes patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea [n = 8476, age 51.5 (12.5) years, body mass index 31.0 (6.6) kg m(-2) , 82.4% driver's licence holders]. Driving distance (km year(-1) ), driver's licence type, sleep apnea severity, sleepiness and comorbidities were assessed. Previously validated risk factors for accident history: Epworth Sleepiness Scale ≥16; habitual sleep time ≤5 h; use of hypnotics; and driving ≥15 000 km year(-1) were analysed acro…
Long-term positive airway pressure therapy is associated with reduced total cholesterol levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea : data from the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA)
Background and aim: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia. The current study examined the effects of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment on lipid status in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA). Methods: The prospective cohort study enrolled 1564 OSA subjects (74% male, mean age 54 ± 11y, body mass index (BMI) 32.7 ± 6.6 kg/m2 and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 40.3 ± 24.4 n/h) undergoing PAP therapy for at least three months (mean 377.6 ± 419.5 days). Baseline and follow-up total cholesterol (TC) from nine centers were analyzed. Repeated measures and logistic regression tests (adjusted for age, sex, weight changes, lipid lowering medication, PAP …
Epidemiology, Physiology and Clinical Approach to Sleepiness at the Wheel in OSA Patients: A Narrative Review
Sleepiness at the wheel (SW) is recognized as an important factor contributing to road traffic accidents, since up to 30 percent of fatal accidents have been attributed to SW. Sleepiness-related motor vehicle accidents may occur both from falling asleep while driving and from behavior impairment attributable to sleepiness. SW can be caused by various sleep disorders but also by behavioral factors such as sleep deprivation, shift work and non-restorative sleep, as well as chronic disease or the treatment with drugs that negatively affect the level of vigilance. An association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and motor vehicle accidents has been found, with an increasing risk in OSA pati…
Position paper on the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension: joint recommendations by the European Society of Hypertension, by the European Respiratory Society and by the members of the European COST (COoperation in Scientific and Technological research) ACTION B26 on obstructive sleep apnea
This article is aimed at addressing the current state of the art in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic procedures and treatment options for appropriate management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cardiovascular (particularly hypertensive) patients, as well as for the management of cardiovascular diseases (particularly arterial hypertension) in OSA patients. The present document is the result of the work done by a panel of experts participating in the European Union COST (COoperation in Scientific and Technological research) ACTION B26 on OSA, with the endorsement of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). These recommendations are par…
Effects of a structured educational intervention in moderate-to-severe elderly asthmatic subjects.
Background: Adherence to inhaled drugs is linked to patients’ satisfaction with their device, and an incorrect use can negatively affect the outcomes of asthma treatment. We speculated that this is particularly true in elderly asthmatic subjects. Aim: We performed a national pre-post interventional multicentre study, enrolling moderate-to-severe asthmatic subjects aged ≥65 years treated with fixed inhaled combination drugs by dry powder inhaler (DPI) or pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI). Adherence and critical errors were evaluated by means of validated questionnaires at first visit (V1) and after 3–6 months (V2). At V1, subjects underwent intensive training on the correct use of the…
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Sleep Disorders, High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Diseases. A Consensus Document by the Italian Society of Hypertension (SIIA)
Hypertension is a major contributor to fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular diseases, and timely identification and appropriate management of factors affecting hypertension and its control are mandatory public health issues. By inducing neurohormonal alterations and metabolic impairment, sleep disorders have an impact on a variety of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, and ultimately increase the risk of cardiovascular events. There is evidence that qualitative and quantitative sleep disorders are associated with resistant hypertension and with impaired circadian blood pressure variations. However, sleep disturbances are often unrecognized, or heterogeneity exists in their managem…
Clusters of sleep apnoea phenotypes: A large pan-European study from the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA)
Background and objective: To personalize OSA management, several studies have attempted to better capture disease heterogeneity by clustering methods. The aim of this study was to conduct a cluster analysis of 23 000 OSA patients at diagnosis using the multinational ESADA. Methods: Data from 34 centres contributing to ESADA were used. An LCA was applied to identify OSA phenotypes in this European population representing broad geographical variations. Many variables, including symptoms, comorbidities and polysomnographic data, were included. Prescribed medications were classified according to the ATC classification and this information was used for comorbidity confirmation. Results: Eight cl…
THE EUROPEAN SLEEP APNOEA DATABASE (ESADA) -- Report from 22 European Sleep Laboratories
The European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) reflects a network of 22 sleep disorder centres in Europe enabled by a COST action B26 programme. This ongoing project aims to describe differences in standard clinical care of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and to establish a resource for genetic research in this disorder. Patients with suspected OSA are consecutively included and followed up according to local clinical standards. Anthropometrics, medical history, medication, daytime symptoms and sleep data (polysomnography or cardiorespiratory polygraphy) are recorded in a structured web-based report form. 5,103 patients (1,426 females, mean±SD age 51.8±12.6 yrs, 79.4% with apnoea/h…
Mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and arterial hypertension in the EuropeanSleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort study.
Background: Mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent, however its association with important clinical outcomes like arterial hypertension remains unknown. Aims and Objectives: To investigate the association between mild OSA and arterial hypertension in the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. Methods: A multicentric sample of 4974 adults from the ESADA cohort who showed simple snoring or mild OSA at cardiorespiratory polygraphy was studied. We compared the predictive value of mild OSA (AHI 5- Results: Arterial hypertension prevalence was 37% in mild OSA patients (n=2457) compared to 20% in non-apnoeic snorers (n=2517,…
Impact of temperature on obstructive sleep apnoea in three different climate zones of Europe: Data from the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA)
Recent studies indicate that ambient temperature may modulate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity. However, study results are contradictory warranting more investigation in this field. We analysed 19,293 patients of the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort with restriction to the three predominant climate zones according to the Koppen-Geiger climate classification: Cfb (warm temperature, fully humid, warm summer), Csa (warm temperature, summer dry, hot summer), and Dfb (snow, fully humid, warm summer). Average outside temperature values were obtained and several hierarchical regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of temperature on the apnea-hypopnea index …
Blood pressure reduction following treatment with positive airway pressure in sleep apnea: data from the European Sleep Apnea Database
Abstract Introduction Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment modifies blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed to explore which factors that influence the BP response to PAP therapy in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA). Methods A total of 2662 OSA patients with PAP therapy ≥90 days were included in the analysis (74% male, age 55±11 years, body mass index 32.3±6.1 kg/m2, 47% hypertensives, apnea-hypopnea index 40±24 events/h, treatment duration 1.0±1.1 years, PAP compliance 5.2±1.9 h/day). Anthropometric data, co-medications and office BP were assessed at baseline and follow-up visit. Results Systolic and diastolic BP were modestly reduced after …
Positive airway pressure level based upper airway collapsibility classification - the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA)
Background and objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with mild upper airway collapsibility represents a target group for potential non-positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment. We studied the clinical characteristics of this endotypic group in a large Pan-European sleep apnea registry. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 2541 OSA patients with fixed PAP treatment (male 74%, age 53±11 years, body mass index [BMI] 33±6 kg/m2, apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 41±25 events/h at baseline). Therapeutic PAP level ≤8 cm H2O was used as the cut-off to classify patients with mild upper airway collapsibility (Landry SA et al. Sleep 2017; 40:6). Results: Mean pressure of the PAP t…
Comment to the Editorial by KS Park and EW Kang “Is only fixed positive airway pressure a robust tool for kidney protection in patients with obstructive sleep apnea?”
We thank doctors Park and Kang for their editorial that well summarized our article. Our common belief is that one of the possible consequences of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an accelerated deterioration of kidney function, and that more knowledge would be necessary on the possible protective effects of OSA treatments. To our knowledge, so far the only OSA therapy whose effects on renal function have been tested is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and most , although not all studies, have demonstrated its benefits. Our own study, while confirming benefits of fixed CPAP, has demonstrated little effect of auto-adjusting CPAP (APAP). This finding may be of relevance a…
Obstructive sleep apnoea in adult patients post-tonsillectomy
Background: The impact of removing the upper airway lymphoid tissue and in particular, tonsillectomy, in adults with OSA has not been demonstrated in large populations. Aims: To compare the severity of OSA and the prevalence of cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory co-morbidities between patients with OSA who had undergone previous tonsillectomy and those who had not. Methods: The 19,711 participants in this study came from the European sleep apnea database (ESADA) which comprises data from unselected adult patients aged 18–80 years with a history of symptoms suggestive of OSA referred to sleep centers throughout Europe. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms…
Fixed But Not Autoadjusting Positive Airway Pressure Attenuates the Time-dependent Decline in Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients With OSA
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The impact of treating OSA on renal function decline is controversial. Previous studies usually included small samples and did not consider specific effects of different CPAP modalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective influence of fixed and autoadjusting CPAP modes on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a large sample of patients derived from the prospective European Sleep Apnea Database cohort. METHODS: In patients of the European Sleep Apnea Database, eGFR prior to and after follow-up was calculated by using the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Three study groups were investigated: untreated patients (n = 14…
Unique sleep-stage transitions determined by obstructive sleep apnea severity, age and gender
In obstructive sleep apnea, patients' sleep is fragmented leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and co-morbidities like arterial hypertension. However, traditional metrics are not always directly correlated with daytime sleepiness, and the association between traditional sleep quality metrics like sleep duration and arterial hypertension is still ambiguous. In a development cohort, we analysed hypnograms from mild (n = 213), moderate (n = 235) and severe (n = 277) obstructive sleep apnea patients as well as healthy controls (n = 105) from the European Sleep Apnea Database. We assessed sleep by the analysis of two-step transitions depending on obstructive sleep apnea severity and anthropom…
Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence and Control in Sleep-Disordered Breathing
BACKGROUND OSA is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity. A driver of this is metabolic dysfunction and in particular type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Prior studies identifying a link between OSA and T2DM have excluded subjects with undiagnosed T2DM, and there is a lack of population-level data on the interaction between OSA and glycemic control among patients with diabetes. We assessed the relationship between OSA severity and T2DM prevalence and control in a large multinational population. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6,616 participants in the European Sleep Apnea Cohort (ESADA) study, using multivariate regression analysis to assess T2DM preva…
OSA and cancer in Europe: the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA) experience
Background: Experimental and clinical studies suggest a relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and cancer development or progression Objectives: To explore the association between the severity of OSA and prevalence of cancer among patients reported to the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA) after control of several known risk factors for cancer development Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort study of adult patients with OSA (Apnea/Hypopnea Index, AHI≥5). OSA severity was classified according to AHI, Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) and % night-time spent with oxygen saturation Results: Of 19,556 participants, 357 (1.8%, 59.4% male) had been diagnosed with malignancy. Pati…
Chronic kidney disease in European patients with obstructive sleep apnea: the ESADA cohort study
Abstract: The cross-sectional relationship of obstructive sleep apnea with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate = 30) was found in 34% of subjects. The lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation was 81 +/- 10.2%. Chronic kidney disease prevalence in the whole sample was 8.7% or 6.1%, according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease or the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration equations, respectively. Subjects with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate were older, more obese, more often female, had worse obstructive sleep apnea and more co-morbidities (P < 0.001, each). With both equations, independent predictors of esti…
Italian Association of Sleep Medicine (AIMS) position statement and guideline on the treatment of menopausal sleep disorders
Insomnia, vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and depression often co-occur after the menopause, with consequent health problems and reductions in quality of life. The aim of this position statement is to provide evidence-based advice on the management of postmenopausal sleep disorders derived from a systematic review of the literature. The latter yielded results on VMS, insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Overall, the studies show that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) improves VMS, insomnia, and mood. Several antidepressants can improve insomnia, either on their own or in association with MHT; these include selective serotonin reuptake …
Cardiometabolic impact and symptom profile of obstructivesleep apnea: does gender matter?
European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress -- SEP 28-OCT 02, 2019 -- Madrid, SPAIN
RhinAsthma patient perspective: a short daily asthma and rhinitis QoL assessment.
Background The present study aimed to develop a short validated patient-completed questionnaire, the RhinAsthma Patient Perspective (RAPP), to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis in clinical practice. Methods A provisional RAPP questionnaire was formed from candidate items identified through retrospective analysis of 333 RHINASTHMA questionnaires. This was then tested on 150 asthma patients with allergic rhinitis. Results Psychometric analyses identified eight items fitting a unidimensional model to form RAPP. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 0.8) and agreement with RHINASTHMA (r = −0.31, P = 0.0001) we…