The Effect of Physical Characteristics on Sleep Disturbance and Cardiovascular Complications in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients: The Preliminary Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common yet an under-diagnosed sleep related breathing disorder associated with many adverse health outcomes. OSA is commonly associated with cardiovascular disorders that include coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics of OSA patients as a screening test for sleep apnea associated cardiovascular disease. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred twenty-six adult OSA patients were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent an overnight polysomnography (PSG) and were determined body mass index (BMI), neck circumstance, waist circumstance, tonsil size, etc. Cardiovascular events, such as hypertension, cardiovascular accident, myocardial infarction, and angina were analyzed. The correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted to find influential and predictive factors of cardiovascular complications of OSA. RESULTS: PSG findings, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimal oxygen saturation, and oxygen desaturation index were associated with BMI, neck circumstance, and waist circumstance. Tonsil size was also associated with AHI and oxygen desaturation index. However, PSG results were not associated with cardiovascular accidents of OSA patients. Hypertension was associated with tonsil size, angina was associated with Mallampati score and cardiovascular accident was associated with tonsil size. CONCLUSION: Although we cannot find the statistical relation between PSG results and cardiovascular disease, tonsil size and Mallampati score influenced the risk of cardiovascular accident.

Influencing Factors that Affect the Psychological Well-being in Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the psychological well-being in family caregivers of stroke patients. METHOD: The General Health Perception, short form 36, Health Survey Questionaire was used to measure health perception. The Caregiving Mastery Scale was used to assess the mastery, while the Psychological General Well-Being Index was used to examine the level of well-being. RESULT: Subjective health, caregiving mastery, patient's ADL and caregiving duration influenced on caregiver's psychological well-being. Subjective health had effect on psychological well-being both directly and indirectly. Caregiving duration and patient's ADL had indirect effect on psychological well-being through caregiving mastery. CONCLUSION: It is need to develop a health program for the caregivers of stroke patient's and to provide nursing intervention to improve the caregiver's ability, thereby improving the well-being of the family caregivers.