Excessive sleepiness and self-reported shift work disorder: an Internet survey of shift workers.

OBJECTIVES: To compare excessive sleepiness and quality of life (QoL) scores in shift workers who report having a diagnosis of shift work disorder (SWD) with those who report having no such diagnosis. METHODS: An Internet-based survey was conducted between March and April 2009 that included shift workers with or without a self-reported diagnosis of SWD. Participation required working ≥ 21 hours/week for 2 weeks prior, a diagnosis of SWD or a score of ≥ 10 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and a score of ≥ 5 on any subscale of the Sheehan Disability Scale. RESULTS: Surveys included 260 shift workers (103 with an SWD diagnosis and 157 without an SWD diagnosis). Diagnosed and undiagnosed respondents demonstrated similar Epworth Sleepiness Scale (13.7 vs 13.6, respectively) and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (6.0 vs 5.5, respectively) scores. Sheehan Disability Scale social life and family life scores were similar between the 2 groups, although diagnosed respondents had a greater mean Sheehan Disability Scale work disability score compared with undiagnosed respondents (6.7 vs 5.5; P < 0.0001). Quality of life was more impaired in diagnosed patients in terms of ability to drive safely, propensity for accidents, work performance, and anxiety (P ≤ 0.039 vs undiagnosed). Work-related accidents (16% vs 5%; P = 0.0076) and injuries at work (17% vs 7%; P = 0.0233) were also reported by more diagnosed respondents than by undiagnosed respondents. Many respondents used caffeine and 57% of diagnosed respondents received prescription medication to treat symptoms of SWD. CONCLUSION: Individuals with diagnosed SWD demonstrated impairment in QoL and reported more work-related accidents and injuries, although many measures of QoL and prescription drug use were similar between groups. Shift work disorder is underrecognized by clinicians and patients, resulting in undertreatment, despite the availability of several behavioral and therapeutic treatment options.

2011 Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia.

Gout is a major health problem in the United States; it affects 8.3 million people, which is approximately 4% of the adult population. Gout is most often diagnosed and managed in primary care physician practices. Primary care physicians have a significant opportunity to diagnose and manage patients with gout and improve patient outcomes. Following publication of the 2006 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) gout guidelines, significant evidence on gout has accumulated and new treatments for patients with gout have become available. It is the objective of these 2011 recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia to update the 2006 EULAR guidelines, paying special attention to the needs of primary care physicians, who manage most patients with gout. The revised 2011 recommendations are based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach as an evidence-based strategy for rating quality of evidence and grading strength of recommendation in clinical practice. A total of 26 key recommendations for diagnosis (n = 10) and management (n = 16) were evaluated. Presence of tophus (proven or suspected) and response to colchicine had the highest clinical diagnostic value (likelihood ratio [LR], 15.56 [95% CI, 2.11-114.71] and LR, 4.33 [95% CI, 1.16-16.16], respectively). The key aspect of effective management of an acute gout attack is initiation of treatment within hours of onset of first symptoms. Low-dose colchicine is better tolerated than and is as effective as high-dose colchicine (number needed to treat [NNT], 5 [95% CI, 3-13] and NNT, 6 [95% CI, 3-72], respectively). For urate-lowering therapy, allopurinol in combination with probenecid was shown to be more effective than either agent alone (effect size [ES], 5.51 for combination; ES, 4.46 for probenecid; and ES, 2.80 for allopurinol). Febuxostat, also a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has a slightly different mechanism of action and can be prescribed at unchanged doses for patients with mild-to-moderate renal or hepatic impairment. Febuxostat 40 mg versus 80 mg (NNT, 6 [95% CI, 4-11]) and 120 mg (NNT, 6 [95% CI, 3-26]) both demonstrated long-term efficacy. The target of urate-lowering therapy should be a serum uric acid level of ≤ 6 mg/dL. For patients with refractory and tophaceous gout, intravenous pegloticase is a new treatment option.

Treatment and prophylaxis of gout flare in the clinic: an office-based approach to gout management.

Gout is an often-overlooked and undertreated inflammatory arthritis that is most frequently managed in the primary care office. Its initial clinical presentation may include acute-onset pain that is most typically associated with the big toe (podagra) or knee. Most patients with gout can be successfully treated from the primary care physician's office with little or no need for referral to a rheumatology practice. Prompt recognition, diagnosis, and management can greatly improve the lives of patients with gout. Patient education is important; addressing modifiable risk factors promptly after initial presentation can arrest the development of serious debilitating effects and improve, or occasionally replace, pharmacologic intervention. This article will discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of gout, as well as management of the acute flare and management of chronic gout with urate-lowering therapy, including prophylaxis.

2011 recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia.

Gout is a major health problem in the United States; it affects 8.3 million people, which is approximately 4% of the adult population. Gout is most often diagnosed and managed in primary care practices; thus, primary care physicians have a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes. Following publication of the 2006 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) gout guidelines, significant new evidence has accumulated, and new treatments for patients with gout have become available. It is the objective of these 2011 recommendations to update the 2006 EULAR guidelines, paying special attention to the needs of primary care physicians. The revised 2011 recommendations are based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach as an evidence-based strategy for rating quality of evidence and grading the strength of recommendation formulated for use in clinical practice. A total of 26 key recommendations, 10 for diagnosis and 16 for management, of patients with gout were evaluated, resulting in important updates for patient care. The presence of monosodium urate crystals and/or tophus and response to colchicine have the highest clinical diagnostic value. The key aspect of effective management of an acute gout attack is initiation of treatment within hours of symptom onset. Low-dose colchicine is better tolerated and is as effective as a high dose. When urate-lowering therapy (ULT) is indicated, the xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol and febuxostat are the options of choice. Febuxostat can be prescribed at unchanged doses for patients with mild-to-moderate renal or hepatic impairment. The target of ULT should be a serum uric acid level that is ≤ 6 mg/dL. For patients with refractory and tophaceous gout, intravenous pegloticase is a new treatment option. This article is a summary of the 2011 clinical guidelines published in Postgraduate Medicine. This article provides a streamlined, accessible overview intended for quick review by primary care physicians, with the full guidelines being a resource for those seeking additional background information and expanded discussion.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and excessive sleepiness associated with OSA: recognition in the primary care setting.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and debilitating condition characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction, resulting in intermittent occurrence of apnea-hypopnea. Clinical features include snoring or disturbed sleep, reduced concentration and memory, mood disorders, and excessive sleepiness (ES). Left undiagnosed and untreated, OSA may have detrimental consequences, including cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, decreased health-related quality of life, and increased incidence of motor vehicle accidents. As most individuals affected by OSA will initially present in the primary care setting, primary care physicians have the opportunity to recognize the condition and refer patients for treatment when necessary. Management of the condition should include lifestyle changes and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment if required. Wakefulness-promoting agents may be considered if ES persists despite CPAP. Effective intervention for OSA not only provides symptomatic benefits, but also improves hypertension and reduces the risk for fatal and nonfatal CV events associated with the condition.

Sleep disturbances in patients with chronic pain: effectively managing opioid analgesia to improve outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with chronic pain experience pain-related sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling and staying asleep and less restful sleep. Evidence suggests that pain and sleep exist in a bidirectional relationship in which pain causes sleep disturbance and sleep disturbance intensifies pain. This association can impair a patient's daily function and decrease quality of life. Evidence suggests that patients with chronic pain can use opioid analgesics or other pain medications to control their pain and, in turn, improve some measures of sleep. This may include subjective sleep measures such as increased sleep time, and, as evidenced in recent studies, objective sleep measures such as sleep efficiency. SCOPE: The role of effective analgesia in the improvement of pain-related sleep disturbance is discussed herein, specifically the risks and benefits of opioid therapy for the treatment of patients with chronic pain and disturbed sleep. MEDLINE and PubMed searches were conducted to locate relevant studies dated from January 1975 to April 2008. English-only randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies were considered. FINDINGS: Numerous studies support the benefits of effective analgesia with opioid therapy on sleep. CONCLUSION: Pain control achieved with pharmacotherapy, specifically opioid therapy, may help to improve sleep in patients for which opioid therapy is appropriate.

Long-term issues in the treatment of sleep disorders.

Insomnia is a disorder characterized by chronic sleep disturbance associated with daytime disability or distress, such as memory impairment and fatigue, that occurs despite adequate opportunity for sleep. Insomnia may present as difficulty falling/staying asleep or as sleep that is nonrestorative. Studies show a strong correlation between insomnia and impaired quality of life. Pain conditions and depression are commonly associated with insomnia, either as secondary or comorbid conditions. In addition, a greater incidence of anxiety, alcohol and drug dependence, and cardiovascular disease is found in people with insomnia. Data indicate insomnia results from over-engaged arousal systems. Insomnia patients experience increased metabolic rate, body temperature, and heart rate, and elevated levels of norepinephrine and catecholamines. Pharmacologic options for the treatment of insomnia include benzodiazepine hypnotics, a selective melatonin receptor agonist, and sedating antidepressants. However, insomnia may be best treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy and instruction in good sleep hygiene, either alone or in concert with pharmacologic agents. Studies on the effects of insomnia treatment use variable methodologies or do not publish negative results, and there are currently no studies of treatment focusing on morbidity. Further research is necessary to better understand the effects of insomnia therapies on medical and psychiatric disorders. In this Clinical Information Supplement, Thomas Roth, PhD, describes the nature of insomnia and its pathophysiology. Next, Andrew D. Krystal, MD, MS, reviews morbidities associated with insomnia. Finally, Joseph A. Lieberman III, MD, MPH, provides an overview of therapeutics utilized in patients with insomnia, including behavioral therapies and pharmacologic options.

Patient identification.

The homeostatic sleep drive and circadian arousal, each opposing the other, form the neurobiological bases of the sleep and wake states. Many factors can and do disrupt this cycle. Yet, excessive daytime sleepiness is not only common, and it often goes unrecognized. It can contribute to accidents, produce or exacerbate health conditions, reduce efficiency and productivity, interfere with social relationships, and diminish quality of life. The spectrum of common sleep disorders includes circadian rhythm changes, shiftwork requirements, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, also known as insomnia. In many cases, however, sleep deprivation is the choice of the patient, chosen in response to long commutes, academic rigor, or occupational matters. Regardless of the sleep disorder that a patient has, good sleep behavior or "sleep hygiene" is essential.

Patient-management strategies.

An active cortex is necessary for intact cognitive function. In a sleepy individual, the cerebral cortex is to some extent deactivated; a sleep-deprived person will experience reduced physical and mental activity and productivity, more errors on the job, more risk for motor vehicle accidents, and psychosocial problems. Hormone levels can become imbalanced from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and treatments for conditions unrelated to EDS can be hampered. Whether sleep restriction is voluntary or not, those who experience it habitually are at greater risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. While an accurate history is necessary to diagnose sleep disorders, all too often a patient's chronic daytime sleepiness is never mentioned. EDS will not show up in most blood chemistries either. It is important that primary care providers ask patients about their sleep and its quality. Other screening tools include questionnaires, which are easily administered and can be sensitive. To determine the basis of EDS, formal sleep studies may be necessary.

Managed care considerations.

Managed care issues arising from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which impacts as many as 37% of adults, are widespread. In the United States, insomnia is among the 3 most common complaints. Often it is younger people who have difficulty falling asleep, whereas their elders report more difficulty remaining asleep. Currently, people in the United States sleep 25% fewer hours than they did 100 years ago. Chronic sleep deprivation may be a choice driven by economic or social factors. Industrialized countries engage about 20% of the work force in shifts, and people working night shifts are thought to average 8 fewer hours of sleep each week than day workers. Falling asleep behind the wheel is the single most imminent risk associated with excessive sleepiness.

Update on the safety considerations in the management of insomnia with hypnotics: incorporating modified-release formulations into primary care.

OBJECTIVE: From a safety perspective, several issues require assessment when a decision is made to prescribe a sleep medication, including next-day residual effects, the potential for abuse, tolerance, and dependence. This article aims to provide an update of the safety profile of agents commonly used in the management of insomnia, with an emphasis on newly approved hypnotics. DATA SOURCES: Publications relevant to the subject of this review were identified by a PubMed search (conducted without date restrictions; search terms: insomnia WITH safety OR tolerability OR side effects OR tolerance OR dependence OR abuse OR residual effects AND benzodiazepines OR non-benzodiazepines OR zolpidem OR eszopiclone OR zaleplon OR ramelteon OR melatonin OR trazodone OR antihistamines OR alcohol OR alternative therapies), and additional articles (selected by the author on the basis of his experience) were included. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Publications relevant to the objective of this article were obtained, and the key safety data relating to adverse events, next-day residual effects, tolerance, and withdrawal were summarized. DATA SYNTHESIS: The non-benzodiazepines (eszopiclone, zolpidem, zolpidem extended-release, and zaleplon), which have largely replaced the benzodiazepines for insomnia treatment, have a lower risk of tolerance, dependence, abuse, and residual effects compared with benzodiazepines. The modified-release formulation of zolpidem demonstrates a comparable safety profile to that of original zolpidem but has an additional sleep maintenance benefit. Ramelteon, a novel melatonin receptor agonist, is indicated for sleep-onset difficulties and is not scheduled. Over-the-counter agents, alternative therapies, and the prescription of off-label drugs, such as trazodone, have a lack of controlled clinical efficacy and safety studies in the treatment of insomnia and as a result should be used with caution. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, published studies report that the safety of insomnia treatments has improved considerably over the past 10 years with the introduction of agents that provide improved safety, particularly with regard to next-day residual effects and abuse liability.

Stay awake! Understanding, diagnosing, and successfully managing narcolepsy.

Sleep is a physiologic state that performs an essential restorative function and facilitates learning and memory consolidation. When sleep is disrupted for more than a short time, normal daily functions decline. Mood, attention, and behavior deteriorate. Sleepiness and disrupted sleep can result from a large number of pathological disorders. Currently, 88 sleep disorders are listed in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, as established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and sleep disorders adversely affect more than an estimated 70 million Americans. Most of these disorders can be classified as causing insomnia and/or hypersomnia. Insomnia results from disorders that cause difficulty with falling asleep and staying asleep; examples are hyperarousal, circadian dysrhythmia, and homeostatic dysregulation. In contrast, hypersomnia refers to difficulty in staying awake and is characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep. Hypersomnia can result from several primary sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, idiopathic hypersomnia, and periodic limb movement disorder. The effects of some of these sleep disorders and other chronic illnesses on daytime sleepiness are measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Narcolepsy was found to cause some of the highest measures of excessive sleepiness. This supplement uses a case-based approach to describe the underlying pathology and symptoms of narcolepsy. Differential diagnosis of narcolepsy and current treatment options will be discussed.

Metabolic changes associated with antipsychotic use.

In the United States, the risk of type 2 diabetes is currently growing to epidemic proportions, with many physicians unaware that disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder naturally place patients at an increased risk for diabetes. Another serious concern for physicians is the development of metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X, in patients suffering from schizophrenia. Metabolic syndrome often encompasses medical conditions such as weight gain, hypertriglyceridemia, and increased insulin, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Treatment with atypical antipsychotics may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and physicians need to be proactive when treating patients with schizophrenia. Physicians should be aware that the treatment of schizophrenia involves the right balance for the patient in terms of adverse effects versus benefit, and failing to treat a patient's mental illness because of potential medical problems may place the patient at an increased risk for more serious problems.

Managing anticholinergic side effects.

Atypical antipsychotics are associated with a lower risk of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia than the conventional antipsychotics; however, many atypical antipsychotics can cause other potentially harmful side effects such as anticholinergic side effects. Peripheral and central anticholinergic side effects can cause physical and mental impairment. Awareness of the medications that have the potential to cause anticholinergic side effects as well as proper management of these symptoms can aid physicians in treating patients who need antipsychotic therapy.

Tackling insomnia: diagnostic and treatment issues in primary care.

Primary care physicians are often the first healthcare providers to encounter insomnia in their patients. However, they face many obstacles to diagnosis and treatment of insomnia that stem from patient- and physician-related factors. During consultations, most patients do not mention their sleep difficulties because they believe that insomnia is a trivial concern that does not have serious health consequences. Physicians also face diagnostic obstacles related to conflicting or vague diagnostic definitions, office-based time constraints, and a lack of training in sleep medicine in medical school and residency programs. Once a diagnosis is made, initiating appropriate treatment is also complicated because of outdated treatment guidelines and US Food and Drug Administration prescribing constraints. These factors may have contributed to the perception that there are no good treatment options for insomnia and that all available medications have a poor risk-benefit ratio. For example, benzodiazepines are known to carry a risk of tolerance and abuse. Until recently, few long-term data were available on the safety and efficacy of current agents, which may have contributed to reticence to treat chronic insomnia. Furthermore, there is limited evidence that treating insomnia is associated with improved patient outcomes, and this may have discouraged active treatment programs for insomnia. Increased awareness that insomnia can precede and exacerbate coexisting illnesses, including depression and chronic pain syndromes, is needed. As data emerge from recent clinical trials with newer, promising nonbenzodiazepine medications, it should become easier for primary care physicians to take a proactive role in diagnosing and treating insomnia and thus improve patient functioning.