Brainstem lesions are associated with sleep apnea in multiple sclerosis

Background Studies linking MRI findings in MS patients with obstructive sleep apnea severity are limited. Objective We conducted a retrospective study to assess MRI abnormalities associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods We performed retrospective chart review of 65 patients with multiple sclerosis who had undergone polysomnography (PSG) for fatigue as well as brain MRI. We measured the number of lesions in the brainstem and calculated the standardized third ventricular width (sTVW) as a measure of brain atrophy, and subsequently performed correlation analyses of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) with brainstem lesion location, sTVW, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results MS Patients with OSA were significantly older and had a higher body mass index (BMI) and higher AHI measures than patients without OSA. After adjustment for covariates, significant associations were found between AHI and lesion burden in the midbrain (p < 0.01) and pons (p = 0.05), but not medulla. Conclusions Midbrain and pontine lesions burden correlated with AHI, suggesting MS lesion location could contribute to development of OSA.

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Effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea in multiple sclerosis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (SAMS-PAP study)

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/13524585211010390 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135245852110103

Author(s):

Sulaiman Khadadah ◽

R John Kimoff ◽

Pierre Duquette ◽

Vincent Jobin ◽

Yves Lapierre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ◽

Airway Pressure ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Positive Airway Pressure ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Double Blind ◽

Obstructive Sleep

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS, preplanned primary outcome), another fatigue measure, sleep quality, somnolence, pain, disability, and quality of life in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH). Methods: In a randomized, double-blind trial (NCT01746342), MS patients with fatigue, poor subjective sleep quality, and OSAH (apnea-hypopnea index of ⩾ 15 events per hour/sleep), but without severe OSAH (apnea-hypopnea index > 30, and 4% oxygen desaturation index > 15 events/hour or severe somnolence), were randomized to fixed CPAP or sham CPAP for 6 months. Outcome assessments were performed at 3 and 6 months. Results: Of 49 randomized patients, 34 completed the protocol. Among completers, FSS did not improve with CPAP compared to sham at 6 months. FSS tended to improve ( p = 0.09), and sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) improved significantly ( p = 0.03) at 3 months with CPAP compared to sham, but there were no other improvements with CPAP at either study evaluation. Conclusion: In non-severe OSAH patients, CPAP did not significantly improve the primary outcome of FSS change at 6 months. In secondary analyses, we found a trend to improved FSS, and a significant reduction in somnolence with CPAP at 3 months.

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Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458511432328 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 1159-1169 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

M Kaminska ◽

RJ Kimoff ◽

A Benedetti ◽

A Robinson ◽

A Bar-Or ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Severe Fatigue ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Disability Status ◽

Fatigue Severity ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Multiple Sleep Latency

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients often suffer from fatigue. Objective: We evaluated the relationship of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to fatigue and sleepiness in MS patients. Methods: Ambulatory MS patients without known sleep disorders and healthy controls underwent diagnostic polysomnography and a multiple sleep latency test (objective sleepiness measure). Fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), and subjective sleepiness by Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Covariates included age, sex, body mass index, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), depression, pain, nocturia, restless legs syndrome, and medication. Results: OSA (apnea–hypopnea index ≥15) was found in 36 of 62 MS subjects and 15 of 32 controls. After adjusting for confounders, severe fatigue (FSS ≥5) and MFI-mental fatigue (>group median) were associated with OSA and respiratory-related arousals in MS, but not control subjects. Subjective and objective sleepiness were not related to OSA in either group. In a multivariate model, variables independently associated with severe fatigue in MS were severe OSA [OR 17.33, 95% CI 2.53–199.84], EDSS [OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.21–3.25], and immunomodulating treatment [OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.023–0.65]. Conclusions: OSA was frequent in MS and was associated with fatigue but not sleepiness, independent of MS-related disability and other covariates.

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Position: Does It Matter for Infants With a Cleft Palate?

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal ◽

10.1177/1055665618817664 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (7) ◽

pp. 890-895 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christopher J. Greenlee ◽

Melissa A. Scholes ◽

Dexiang Gao ◽

Norman R. Friedman

Keyword(s):

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Cleft Palate ◽

Cleft Lip ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Sudden Infant Death ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Sudden Infant ◽

Obstructive Sleep

Objective:To determine whether nonsupine sleep improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants with cleft palate undergoing polysomnography (PSG).Design:Retrospective chart review.Setting:Tertiary care pediatric hospital.Patients:Twenty-seven infants (1 month to 1 year) with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L) undergoing PSG testing for suspected OSA were included.Main Outcome Measures:Polysomnography measures included obstructive apnea–hypopnea index (OAHI), central apnea–hypopnea index (CAHI), oxygen saturation (SpO2) nadir, SpO2, and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2).Results:Twenty-three PSGs with at least 20 minutes of sleep in both the supine and the nonsupine positions were analyzed. The supine OAHI (mean: 16.8 events/hour; standard deviation [SD]: 18.5) and nonsupine OAHI (mean: 12.6 events/hour; SD: 12.6) did not differ significantly ( P = .10). The supine CAHI (mean: 1.9 events/hour; SD: 2.7) and nonsupine CAHI (mean: 3.1 events/hour; SD: 3.7; P = .15), the supine SpO2nadir (mean: 81.2%; SD: 6.3) and nonsupine SpO2nadir (mean: 81.8%; SD: 5.3; P = .70), the supine mean SpO2(mean: 95.5%; SD: 1.9) and nonsupine mean SpO2saturation (mean: 95.3%; SD: 2.4; P = .34), and the supine ETCO2(mean: 45.4 mm Hg; SD: 5.3) and nonsupine ETCO2(mean: 42.5 mm Hg; SD: 10.1; P = .24) were also similar.Conclusions:There were no significant improvements in OSA metrics during nonsupine sleep in infants with CP ± L. Prior to recommending nonsupine positioning which increases infant’s exposure to sudden infant death syndrome risk, we advocate obtaining a PSG to verify an objective improvement in OSA.

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IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AND FRAILTY IN OLDER VETERANS WITH DIABETES?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3447 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S949-S949

Author(s):

Jahan E Mahjabin ◽

Dhanya Baskaran ◽

Christopher Lewis ◽

Valeria C Baldivieso ◽

William Wohlgemuth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Medical Center ◽

Frailty Index ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

P Value ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

The Mean

Abstract Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a highly prevalent disease, where incidence increases with age. Individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are at risk of OSA increasing the risk of frailty. A retrospective chart review was conducted to study the association between OSA and frailty in older diabetic Veterans. Baseline polysomnography data for 91 patients ≥ 65 years was obtained from the electronic health records at the Miami VA Medical Center. Patients were screened for frailty from January 2016 to August 2017, and followed until October 2018. Patients were then dichotomized into frail (Frailty Index (FI) ≥.21) and non-frail (robust FI =<.10 and pre-frail FI ≥.10, <.21) groups. The mean participant age is 70.9 years, with (SD) of 4.8. The mean age for the frail group is 71.1 years, with a SD of 5.2. Mean age for the non-frail group is 70.5 years, with a SD of 4.2. Linear regression demonstrated a significant positive linear relationship between BMI (t=2.096 p-value= .039) and the frailty index. In binomial logistic regression, adjusting for covariates, BMI was associated with increased apnea severity (OR=1.139, 95% CI= 1.044-1.241), p=.003. However, no significant association was found between FI and apnea severity. The severity of OSA based on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index had no significant association with frailty status. However, the study demonstrated a significant association between obesity and frailty, where higher BMI coincided with higher frailty. Increasing BMI coincided with increased severity of OSA, suggesting that BMI acts as a possible confounder between frailty and OSA.

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Improvement in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Super Morbidly Obese Patients After Bariatric Surgery

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand ◽

10.35755/jmedassocthai.2020.08.10650 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 103 (8) ◽

pp. 725-728

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Morbidly Obese ◽

Obese Patients ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Objective Evidence

Background: Lifestyle modification is the mainstay therapy for obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, most of these patients are unable to lose the necessary weight, and bariatric surgery (BS) has been proven to be an effective modality in selected cases. Objective: To provide objective evidence that BS can improve OSA severity. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in super morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] greater than 40 kg/m² or BMI greater than 35 kg/m² with uncontrolled comorbidities) scheduled for BS. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed for preoperative assessment and OSA was treated accordingly. After successful surgery, patients were invited to perform follow-up PSG at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Twenty-four patients with a mean age of 35.0±14.0 years were enrolled. After a mean follow-up period of 7.8±3.4 months, the mean BMI, Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) significantly decreased from 51.6±8.7 to 38.2±6.8 kg/m² (p<0.001), from 8.7±5.9 to 4.7±3.5 (p=0.003), and from 87.6±38.9 to 28.5±21.5 events/hour (p<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: BS was shown to dramatically improve clinical and sleep parameters in super morbidly obese patients. Keywords: Morbid obesity, Bariatric surgery, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

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Aerodynamics Analysis of the Impact of Nasal Surgery on Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Nasal Obstruction

ORL ◽

10.1159/000516243 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Lifeng Li ◽

Demin Han ◽

Hongrui Zang ◽

Nyall R. London

Keyword(s):

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Nasal Obstruction ◽

Upper Airway ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Nasal Surgery ◽

Subjective Sleep Quality ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nasal surgery on airflow characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by comparing the alterations of airflow characteristics within the nasal and palatopharyngeal cavities. Methods: Thirty patients with OSA and nasal obstruction who underwent nasal surgery were enrolled. A pre- and postoperative 3-dimensional model was constructed, and alterations of airflow characteristics were assessed using the method of computational fluid dynamics. The other subjective and objective clinical indices were also assessed. Results: By comparison with the preoperative value, all postoperative subjective symptoms statistically improved (p < 0.05), while the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) changed little (p = 0.492); the postoperative airflow velocity and pressure in both nasal and palatopharyngeal cavities, nasal and palatopharyngeal pressure differences, and total upper airway resistance statistically decreased (all p < 0.01). A significant difference was derived for correlation between the alteration of simulation metrics with subjective improvements (p < 0.05), except with the AHI (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Nasal surgery can decrease the total resistance of the upper airway and increase the nasal airflow volume and subjective sleep quality in patients with OSA and nasal obstruction. The altered airflow characteristics might contribute to the postoperative reduction of pharyngeal collapse in a subset of OSA patients.

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High Plasma Cystine Levels Are Associated with Blood Pressure and Reversed by CPAP in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10071387 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1387

Author(s):

Raphael Boneberg ◽

Anita Pardun ◽

Lena Hannemann ◽

Olaf Hildebrandt ◽

Ulrich Koehler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Vascular Risk Factor ◽

High Plasma ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Hypoxic Stress ◽

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽

Obstructive Sleep

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) independent of obesity (OBS) imposes severe cardiovascular risk. To what extent plasma cystine concentration (CySS), a novel pro-oxidative vascular risk factor, is increased in OSA with or without OBS is presently unknown. We therefore studied CySS together with the redox state and precursor amino acids of glutathione (GSH) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in untreated male patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI) > 15 h−1, n = 28) compared to healthy male controls (n = 25) stratifying for BMI ≥ or < 30 kg m−2. Fifteen OSA patients were reassessed after 3–5-months CPAP. CySS correlated with cumulative time at an O2-saturation <90% (Tu90%) (r = 0.34, p < 0.05) beside BMI (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and was higher in subjects with “hypoxic stress” (59.4 ± 2.0 vs. 50.1 ± 2.7 µM, p < 0.01) defined as Tu90% ≥ 15.2 min (corresponding to AHI ≥ 15 h−1). Moreover, CySS significantly correlated with systolic (r = 0.32, p < 0.05) and diastolic (r = 0.31, p < 0.05) blood pressure. CPAP significantly lowered CySS along with blood pressure at unchanged BMI. Unexpectedly, GSH antioxidant capacity in PBMC was increased with OSA and reversed with CPAP. Plasma CySS levels are increased with OSA-related hypoxic stress and associated with higher blood pressure. CPAP decreases both CySS and blood pressure. The role of CySS in OSA-related vascular endpoints and their prevention by CPAP warrants further studies.

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Altered K-complex morphology during sustained inspiratory airflow limitation is associated with next-day lapses in vigilance in obstructive sleep apnea

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ankit Parekh ◽

Korey Kam ◽

Anna E Mullins ◽

Bresne Castillo ◽

Asem Berkalieva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Spectral Characteristics ◽

Sleep Time ◽

Airflow Limitation ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Complex Morphology ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Inspiratory Airflow Limitation ◽

Psychomotor Vigilance

Abstract Study Objectives Determine if changes in K-complexes associated with sustained inspiratory airflow limitation (SIFL) during N2 sleep are associated with next-day vigilance and objective sleepiness. Methods Data from thirty subjects with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who completed three in-lab polysomnograms: diagnostic, on therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and on suboptimal CPAP (4 cmH2O below optimal titrated CPAP level) were analyzed. Four 20-min psychomotor vigilance tests (PVT) were performed after each PSG, every 2 h. Changes in the proportion of spontaneous K-complexes and spectral characteristics surrounding K-complexes were evaluated for K-complexes associated with both delta (∆SWAK), alpha (∆αK) frequencies. Results Suboptimal CPAP induced SIFL (14.7 (20.9) vs 2.9 (9.2); %total sleep time, p < 0.001) with a small increase in apnea–hypopnea index (AHI3A: 6.5 (7.7) vs 1.9 (2.3); p < 0.01) versus optimal CPAP. K-complex density (num./min of stage N2) was higher on suboptimal CPAP (0.97 ± 0.7 vs 0.65±0.5, #/min, mean ± SD, p < 0.01) above and beyond the effect of age, sex, AHI3A, and duration of SIFL. A decrease in ∆SWAK with suboptimal CPAP was associated with increased PVT lapses and explained 17% of additional variance in PVT lapses. Within-night during suboptimal CPAP K-complexes appeared to alternate between promoting sleep and as arousal surrogates. Electroencephalographic changes were not associated with objective sleepiness. Conclusions Sustained inspiratory airflow limitation is associated with altered K-complex morphology including the increased occurrence of K-complexes with bursts of alpha as arousal surrogates. These findings suggest that sustained inspiratory flow limitation may be associated with nonvisible sleep fragmentation and contribute to increased lapses in vigilance.

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Machine learning for image-based detection of patients with obstructive sleep apnea: an exploratory study

Sleep And Breathing ◽

10.1007/s11325-021-02301-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Satoru Tsuiki ◽

Takuya Nagaoka ◽

Tatsuya Fukuda ◽

Yuki Sakamoto ◽

Fernanda R. Almeida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Machine Learning ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Convolutional Neural Network ◽

Deep Convolutional Neural Network ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Cephalometric Analysis ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Main Region

Abstract Purpose In 2-dimensional lateral cephalometric radiographs, patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) exhibit a more crowded oropharynx in comparison with non-OSA. We tested the hypothesis that machine learning, an application of artificial intelligence (AI), could be used to detect patients with severe OSA based on 2-dimensional images. Methods A deep convolutional neural network was developed (n = 1258; 90%) and tested (n = 131; 10%) using data from 1389 (100%) lateral cephalometric radiographs obtained from individuals diagnosed with severe OSA (n = 867; apnea hypopnea index > 30 events/h sleep) or non-OSA (n = 522; apnea hypopnea index < 5 events/h sleep) at a single center for sleep disorders. Three kinds of data sets were prepared by changing the area of interest using a single image: the original image without any modification (full image), an image containing a facial profile, upper airway, and craniofacial soft/hard tissues (main region), and an image containing part of the occipital region (head only). A radiologist also performed a conventional manual cephalometric analysis of the full image for comparison. Results The sensitivity/specificity was 0.87/0.82 for full image, 0.88/0.75 for main region, 0.71/0.63 for head only, and 0.54/0.80 for the manual analysis. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was the highest for main region 0.92, for full image 0.89, for head only 0.70, and for manual cephalometric analysis 0.75. Conclusions A deep convolutional neural network identified individuals with severe OSA with high accuracy. Future research on this concept using AI and images can be further encouraged when discussing triage of OSA.

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827 Central Sleep Apnea in a patient with Multiple Sclerosis

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.824 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A322-A323

Author(s):

Rahul Dasgupta ◽

Sonja Schütz ◽

Tiffany Braley

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Disordered Breathing ◽

Central Sleep Apnea ◽

Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Demyelinating Lesions ◽

The Brain

Abstract Introduction Sleep-disordered breathing is common in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and may contribute to debilitating fatigue and other chronic MS symptoms. The majority of research to date on SDB in MS has focused on the prevalence and consequences of obstructive sleep apnea; however, PwMS may also be at increased risk for central sleep apnea (CSA), and the utility of methods to assess CSA in PwMS warrant further exploration. We present a patient with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis who was found to have severe central sleep apnea on WatchPAT testing. Report of case(s) A 61 year-old female with a past medical history of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis presented with complaints of fragmented sleep. MRI of the brain, cervical spine, and thoracic spine showed numerous demyelinating lesions in the brain, brainstem, cervical, and thoracic spinal cord. Upon presentation, the patient noted snoring, witnessed apneas, and daytime sleepiness. WatchPAT demonstrated severe sleep apnea, with a pAHI of 63.3, and a minimum oxygen saturation of 90%. The majority of the scored events were non-obstructive in nature (73.1% of all scored events), and occurred intermittently in a periodic fashion. Conclusion The differential diagnosis of fatigue in PwMS should include sleep-disordered breathing, including both obstructive and central forms of sleep apnea. Demyelinating lesions in the brainstem (which may contribute to impairment of motor and sensory networks that control airway patency and respiratory drive), and progressive forms of MS, have been linked to both OSA and CSA. The present data illustrate this relationship in a person with progressive MS, and offer support for the WatchPAT as a cost-effective means to evaluate for both OSA and CSA in PwMS, while reducing patient burden. PwMS may be at increased risk for CSA. Careful clinical consideration should be given to ordering appropriate sleep testing to differentiate central from obstructive sleep apnea in PwMS, particularly for patients with demyelinating lesions in the brainstem. Support (if any) 1. Braley TJ, Segal BM, Chervin RD. Obstructive sleep apnea and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2014 Feb 15;10(2):155–62. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.3442. PMID: 24532998; PMCID: PMC3899317.

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