Measures of overnight oxygen saturation to characterize sleep apnea severity and predict postoperative respiratory depression.

BACKGROUND: Sleep apnea syndrome, characterized by recurrent cessation (apnea) or reduction (hypopnea) of breathing during sleep, is a major risk factor for postoperative respiratory depression. Challenges in sleep apnea assessment have led to the proposal of alternative metrics derived from oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2), such as oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and percentage of cumulative sleep time spent with SpO2 below 90% (CT90), as predictors of postoperative respiratory depression. However, their performance has been limited with area under the curve of 0.60 for ODI and 0.59 for CT90. Our objective was to propose novel features from preoperative overnight SpO2 which are correlated with sleep apnea severity and predictive of postoperative respiratory depression. METHODS: Preoperative SpO2 signals from 235 surgical patients were retrospectively analyzed to derive seven features to characterize the sleep apnea severity. The features included entropy and standard deviation of SpO2 signal; below average burden characterizing the area under the average SpO2; average, standard deviation, and entropy of desaturation burdens; and overall nocturnal desaturation burden. The association between the extracted features and sleep apnea severity was assessed using Pearson correlation analysis. Logistic regression was employed to evaluate the predictive performance of the features in identifying postoperative respiratory depression. RESULTS: Our findings indicated a similar performance of the proposed features to the conventional apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) for assessing sleep apnea severity, with average area under the curve ranging from 0.77 to 0.81. Notably, entropy and standard deviation of overnight SpO2 signal and below average burden showed comparable predictive capability to AHI but with minimal computational requirements and individuals' burden, making them promising for screening purposes. Our sex-based analysis revealed that compared to entropy and standard deviation, below average burden exhibited higher sensitivity in detecting respiratory depression in women than men. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the potential of preoperative SpO2 features as alternative metrics to AHI in predicting postoperative respiratory.

Impact of Sugammadex Versus Neostigmine Reversal on Postoperative Recovery Time in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Residual neuromuscular blockade can be associated with serious postoperative complications. Sugammadex is a newer neuromuscular blocking drug (NMBD) reversal agent that rapidly and completely reverses rocuronium. Whether sugammadex has any advantages over neostigmine in morbidly obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is unclear. We investigated whether sugammadex would reduce discharge time from the operating room (OR) compared with neostigmine in morbidly obese patients with OSA undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: This was a prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled superiority trial with 2 parallel groups. Patients were randomized 1:1 into reversal of NMBD with sugammadex or neostigmine. Our inclusion criteria were morbidly obese adult patients with OSA undergoing elective bariatric surgery under general anesthesia. Our exclusion criteria were allergy to rocuronium, sugammadex or neostigmine, malignant hyperthermia, hepatic or renal insufficiency, neuromuscular diseases, and an inability to give consent. The primary outcome was the time from administration of the NMBD reversal agent to discharge from the OR. Secondary outcomes included the time from administration of the NMBD reversal agent to the time the patient opened eyes to command, and the time to extubation. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the outcomes between treatment groups. RESULTS: We randomized 120 patients into 2 groups of 60 patients. Overall median body mass index (BMI) was 48.1 kg/m2 ([interquartile range, IQR]) [43.0-53.5]. The time from drug administration to discharge from OR was 13.0 minutes [10.0-17.0] in the sugammadex group and 13.5 minutes [11.0-18.3] in the neostigmine group (P = .27). The treatment effect estimate with a bootstrapped 95% confidence interval [CI] for time from admission to discharge from OR was -0.5 [-2.5 to 3]. No differences were observed in postoperative complications and other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was observed in OR discharge time in morbidly obese patients with OSA when sugammadex was administered instead of neostigmine.

Associations between obesity, a composite risk score for probable long COVID, and sleep problems in SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary data suggests that obesity might hasten the decline in mRNA vaccine-induced immunity against SARS-CoV-2. However, whether this renders individuals with obesity more susceptible to long COVID symptoms post-vaccination remains uncertain. Given sleep's critical role in immunity, exploring the associations between obesity, probable long COVID symptoms, and sleep disturbances is essential. METHODS: We analyzed data from a survey of 5919 adults aged 18 to 89, all of whom received two SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations. Participants were categorized into normal weight, overweight, and obesity groups based on ethnicity-specific BMI cutoffs. The probability of long COVID was evaluated using the Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) score, as our survey did not permit confirmation of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection through methods such as antibody testing. Additionally, sleep patterns were assessed through questionnaires. RESULTS: Participants with obesity exhibited a significantly higher adjusted odds ratio (OR) of having a PASC score of 12 or higher, indicative of probable long COVID in our study, compared to those with normal weight (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.28). No significant difference was observed for overweight individuals (OR: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.63, 1.33]). Both obesity and probable long COVID were associated with increased odds of experiencing a heightened sleep burden, such as the presence of obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia (P < 0.001). However, no significant interaction between BMI and probable long COVID status was found. CONCLUSIONS: Even post-vaccination, individuals with obesity may encounter a heightened risk of experiencing prolonged COVID-19 symptoms. However, confirming our observations necessitates comprehensive studies incorporating rigorous COVID infection testing, such as antibody assays - unavailable in our anonymous survey. Additionally, it is noteworthy that the correlation between probable long COVID and sleep disturbances appears to be independent of BMI.

Prevalence of preoperative depression and adverse outcomes in older patients undergoing elective surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Depression is a common cause of long-lasting disability and preoperative mental health state that has important implications for optimizing recovery in the perioperative period. In older elective surgical patients, the prevalence of preoperative depression and associated adverse pre- and postoperative outcomes are unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of preoperative depression and the associated adverse outcomes in the older surgical population. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: MEDLINE, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process, In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase/Embase Classic, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ClinicalTrials.Gov, the WHO ICTRP (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) for relevant articles from 2000 to present. PATIENTS: Patients aged ≥65 years old undergoing non-cardiac elective surgery with preoperative depression assessed by tools validated in older adults. These validated tools include the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD). INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative assessment. MEASUREMENT: The primary outcome was the prevalence of preoperative depression. Additional outcomes included preoperative cognitive impairment, and postoperative outcomes such as delirium, functional decline, discharge disposition, readmission, length of stay, and postoperative complications. MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen studies (n = 2824) were included. Preoperative depression was most assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) (n = 12). The overall prevalence of preoperative depression was 23% (95% CI: 15%, 30%). Within non-cancer non-cardiac mixed surgery, the pooled prevalence was 19% (95% CI: 11%, 27%). The prevalence in orthopedic surgery was 17% (95% CI: 9%, 24%). In spine surgery, the prevalence was higher at 46% (95% CI: 28%, 64%). Meta-analysis showed that preoperative depression was associated with a two-fold increased risk of postoperative delirium than those without depression (32% vs 23%, OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.03; I2: 0%; P ≤0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of older surgical patients who suffered from depression was 23%. Preoperative depression was associated with a two-fold higher risk of postoperative delirium. Further work is needed to determine the need for depression screening and treatment preoperatively.

Restless legs symptoms increased during COVID-19 pandemic. International ICOSS-survey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been associated with anxiety, depression, insomnia, lifestyle factors and infections. We aimed to study the prevalence of symptoms of RLS during the COVID-19 pandemic versus pre-pandemic. We hypothesized that pre-existing RLS symptoms worsened and pandemic-related factors may have triggered new symptoms of RLS. METHODS: Adults (≥18 years) from fifteen countries across four continents participated in an online survey between May and August 2020. The harmonized questionnaire included a validated single question on RLS with response alternatives from 1 to 5 on a scale from never to every/almost every evening or night. Other measures were the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), measures of symptoms of anxiety (GAD-2) and depression (PHQ-2), and questions on different pandemic-related factors. RESULTS: Altogether, 17 846 subjects (63.8 % women) were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 41.4 years (SD 16.1). During the pandemic, symptoms of RLS (≥3 evenings/nights per week) were more common 9.1 % (95 % CI 8.7-10.1) compared to 5.4 % (95 % CI 4.9-6.0) before the pandemic (P < 0.0001). Alltogether 1.3 % (95 % CI 1.1-1.6) respondents had new-onset symptoms (≥3 evenings/nights per week). Moderate-severe insomnia was strongly associated with RLS symptoms. The occurrences of new-onset RLS symptoms were 5.6 % (95 % CI 0.9-13.0) for participants reporting COVID-19 and 1.1 % (95 % CI 0.7-1.5) for non-COVID-19 participants. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, the occurrence of new-onset RLS symptoms was associated with younger age, social restrictions and insomnia severity. In a similar analysis, RLS symptoms (≥3 evenings/nights per week) were associated with lower education, financial hardship, sleep apnea symptoms, use of hypnotics, insomnia severity, symptoms of depression and possible post-traumatic stress disorder. DISCUSSION: Our findings indicate that RLS symptoms were more common during the pandemic than before. Usually, the prevalence of RLS increases with age. However, during the pandemic, new-onset symptoms of RLS were more common in younger age groups. This may be due to the pandemic-related factors being more pronounced in the younger compared to the older. The association between insomnia, psychiatric symptoms and RLS warrants clinical attention.

Perioperative adverse events in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing ambulatory surgery: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The suitability of ambulatory surgery for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the odds of perioperative adverse events in patients with OSA undergoing ambulatory surgery, compared to patients without OSA. METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched for studies published between January 1, 2011 and July 11, 2023. The inclusion criteria were: adult patients with diagnosed or high-risk of OSA undergoing ambulatory surgery; perioperative adverse events; control group included; general and/or regional anesthesia; and publication on/after February 1, 2011. We calculated effect sizes as odds ratios using a random effects model, and additional sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Seventeen studies (375,389 patients) were included. OSA was associated with an increased odds of same-day admission amongst all surgery types (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.46-2.59, I2:79%, P < 0.00001, 11 studies, n = 347,342), as well as when only orthopedic surgery was considered (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.05-3.48, I2:41%, P < 0.00001, 6 studies, n = 132,473). Three studies reported that OSA was strongly associated with prolonged post anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS), while one study reported that the association was not statistically significant. In addition, four studies reported that OSA was associated with postoperative respiratory depression/hypoxia, with one large study on shoulder arthroscopy reporting an almost 5-fold increased odds of pulmonary compromise, 5-fold of myocardial infarction, 3-fold of acute renal failure, and 5-fold of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory surgical patients with OSA had almost two-fold higher odds of same-day admission compared to non-OSA patients. Multiple large studies also reported an association of OSA with prolonged PACU LOS, respiratory complications, and/or ICU admission. Clinicians should screen preoperatively for OSA, optimize comorbidities, adhere to clinical algorithm-based management perioperatively, and maintain a high degree of vigilance in the postoperative period.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Risk of Postoperative Complications after Non-Cardiac Surgery.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common sleep disorder, poses significant challenges in perioperative management due to its complexity and multifactorial nature. With a global prevalence of approximately 22.6%, OSA often remains undiagnosed, and increases the risk of cardiac and respiratory postoperative complications. Preoperative screening has become essential in many institutions to identify patients at increased risk, and experts recommend proceeding with surgery in the absence of severe symptoms, albeit with heightened postoperative monitoring. Anesthetic and sedative agents exacerbate upper airway collapsibility and depress central respiratory activity, complicating intraoperative management, especially with neuromuscular blockade use. Additionally, OSA patients are particularly prone to opioid-induced respiratory depression, given their increased sensitivity to opioids and heightened pain perception. Thus, regional anesthesia and multimodal analgesia are strongly advocated to reduce perioperative complication risks. Postoperative care for OSA patients necessitates vigilant monitoring and tailored management strategies, such as supplemental oxygen and Positive Airway Pressure therapy, to minimize cardiorespiratory complications. Health care institutions are increasingly focusing on enhanced monitoring and resource allocation for patient safety. However, the rising prevalence of OSA, heterogeneity in disease severity, and lack of evidence for the efficacy of costly perioperative measures pose challenges. The development of effective screening and monitoring algorithms, alongside reliable risk predictors, is crucial for identifying OSA patients needing extended postoperative care. This review emphasizes a multidimensional approach in managing OSA patients throughout the perioperative period, aiming to optimize patient outcomes and minimize adverse outcomes.

The diagnostic accuracy of the Mini-Cog screening tool for the detection of cognitive impairment-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Mini-Cog is a rapid screening tool that can be administered to older adults to detect cognitive impairment (CI); however, the accuracy of the Mini-Cog to detect CI for older patients in various healthcare settings is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Mini-Cog to screen for cognitive impairment in older patients across different healthcare settings. METHODS/DESIGN: We searched nine electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Embase) from inception to January 2023. We included studies with patients ≥60 years old undergoing screening for cognitive impairment using the Mini-Cog across all healthcare settings. A cut-off of ≤ 2/5 was used to classify dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and cognitive impairment (defined as either MCI or dementia) across various settings. The diagnostic accuracy of the Mini-Cog was assessed against gold standard references such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). A bivariate random-effects model was used to estimate accuracy and diagnostic ability. The risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2 criteria. RESULTS: The systematic search resulted in 4,265 articles and 14 studies were included for analysis. To detect dementia (six studies, n = 4772), the Mini-Cog showed 76% sensitivity and 83% specificity. To detect MCI (two studies, n = 270), it showed 84% sensitivity and 79% specificity. To detect CI (eight studies, n = 2152), it had 67% sensitivity and 83% specificity. In the primary care setting, to detect either MCI, dementia, or CI (eight studies, n = 5620), the Mini-Cog demonstrated 73% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Within the secondary care setting (seven studies, n = 1499), the Mini-Cog to detect MCI, dementia or CI demonstrated 73% sensitivity and 76% specificity. A high or unclear risk of bias persisted in the patient selection and timing domain. CONCLUSIONS: The Mini-Cog is a quick and freely available screening tool and has high sensitivity and specificity to screen for CI in older adults across various healthcare settings. It is a practical screening tool for use in time-sensitive and resource-limited healthcare settings.

Positive Airway Pressure in Surgical Patients with Sleep Apnea: What is the Supporting Evidence?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent amongst surgical patients and associated with an increased incidence of perioperative complications. The gold standard treatment for moderate-to-severe OSA is positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Practice guidelines by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine have recommended preoperative screening for OSA and consideration of initiation of PAP therapy for patients with severe OSA. These guidelines, developed mainly by the consensus of experts, highlight the adverse impact of OSA on postoperative outcomes and recommend the use of postoperative PAP in surgical patients with moderate to severe OSA. Since the development of these guidelines, there has been an increase in the number of publications regarding the efficacy of PAP therapy in surgical patients with OSA. Our review provides an update on the existing literature on the efficacy of PAP therapy in surgical patients with OSA. We focus on the postoperative complications associated with OSA, potential mechanisms leading to the increased risk of postoperative adverse events, and summarize the perioperative guidelines for the management of patients with OSA, evidence supporting perioperative PAP therapy, as well as limitations to PAP therapy and alternatives. An update on the existing literature of the efficacy of PAP therapy in surgical patients with OSA is critical to assess the impact of prior guidelines, determine when and how to effectively implement PAP therapy, and target barriers to PAP adherence in the perioperative setting.

Nightmare frequency is a risk factor for suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association between nightmare frequency (NMF) and suicidal ideation (SI) is well known, yet the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this relation is inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate changes in NMF, SI, and their association during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected in 16 countries using a harmonised questionnaire. The sample included 9328 individuals (4848 women; age M[SD] = 46.85 [17.75] years), and 17.60% reported previous COVID-19. Overall, SI was significantly 2% lower during the pandemic vs. before, and this was consistent across genders and ages. Most countries/regions demonstrated decreases in SI during this pandemic, with Austria (-9.57%), Sweden (-6.18%), and Bulgaria (-5.14%) exhibiting significant declines in SI, but Italy (1.45%) and Portugal (2.45%) demonstrated non-significant increases. Suicidal ideation was more common in participants with long-COVID (21.10%) vs. short-COVID (12.40%), though SI did not vary by COVID-19 history. Nightmare frequency increased by 4.50% during the pandemic and was significantly higher in those with previous COVID-19 (14.50% vs. 10.70%), during infection (23.00% vs. 8.10%), and in those with long-COVID (18.00% vs. 8.50%). The relation between NMF and SI was not significantly stronger during the pandemic than prior (rs = 0.18 vs. 0.14; z = 2.80). Frequent nightmares during the pandemic increased the likelihood of reporting SI (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.20-2.05), while frequent dream recall during the pandemic served a protective effect (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.94). These findings have important implications for identifying those at risk of suicide and may offer a potential pathway for suicide prevention.

Estimation bias and agreement limits between two common self-report methods of habitual sleep duration in epidemiological surveys.

Accurate measurement of habitual sleep duration (HSD) is crucial for understanding the relationship between sleep and health. This study aimed to assess the bias and agreement limits between two commonly used short HSD self-report methods, considering sleep quality (SQ) and social jetlag (SJL) as potential predictors of bias. Data from 10,268 participants in the International COVID Sleep Study-II (ICOSS-II) were used. Method-Self and Method-MCTQ were compared. Method-Self involved a single question about average nightly sleep duration (HSDself), while Method-MCTQ estimated HSD from reported sleep times on workdays (HSDMCTQwork) and free days (HSDMCTQfree). Sleep quality was evaluated using a Likert scale and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to explore its influence on estimation bias. HSDself was on average 42.41 ± 67.42 min lower than HSDMCTQweek, with an agreement range within ± 133 min. The bias and agreement range between methods increased with poorer SQ. HSDMCTQwork showed less bias and better agreement with HSDself compared to HSDMCTQfree. Sleep duration irregularity was - 43.35 ± 78.26 min on average. Subjective sleep quality predicted a significant proportion of variance in HSDself and estimation bias. The two methods showed very poor agreement and a significant systematic bias, both worsening with poorer SQ. Method-MCTQ considered sleep intervals without adjusting for SQ issues such as wakefulness after sleep onset but accounted for sleep irregularity and sleeping in on free days, while Method-Self reflected respondents' interpretation of their sleep, focusing on their sleep on workdays. Including an SQ-related question in surveys may help bidirectionally adjust the possible bias and enhance the accuracy of sleep-health studies.

Video plethysmography for contactless blood pressure and heart rate measurement in perioperative care.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of remote Video Plethysmography (VPPG) for contactless measurements of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in adult surgical patients in a hospital setting. An iPad Pro was used to record a 1.5-minute facial video of the participant's face and VPPG was used to extract vital signs measurements. A standard medical device (Welch Allyn) was used for comparison to measure BP and HR. Trial registration: NCT05165381. Two-hundred-sixteen participants consented and completed the contactless BP and HR monitoring (mean age 54.1 ± 16.8 years, 58% male). The consent rate was 75% and VPPG was 99% successful in capturing BP and HR. VPPG predicted SBP, DBP, and HR with a measurement bias ± SD, -8.18 ± 16.44 mmHg, - 6.65 ± 9.59 mmHg, 0.09 ± 6.47 beats/min respectively. Pearson's correlation for all measurements between VPPG and standard medical device was significant. Correlation for SBP was moderate (0.48), DBP was weak (0.29), and HR was strong (0.85). Most patients were satisfied with the non-contact technology with an average rating of 8.7/10 and would recommend it for clinical use. VPPG was highly accurate in measuring HR, and is currently not accurate in measuring BP in surgical patients. The VPPG BP algorithm showed limitations in capturing individual variations in blood pressure, highlighting the need for further improvements to render it clinically effective across all ranges. Contactless vital signs monitoring was well-received and earned a high satisfaction score.

Video plethysmography for contactless measurement of respiratory rate in surgical patients.

The accurate recording of respiratory rate (RR) without contact is important for patient care. The current methods for RR measurement such as capnography, pneumography, and plethysmography require patient contact, are cumbersome, or not accurate for widespread clinical use. Video Plethysmography (VPPG) is a novel automated technology that measures RR using a facial video without contact. The objective of our study was to determine whether VPPG can feasibly and accurately measure RR without contact in surgical patients at a clinical setting. After research ethics approval, 216 patients undergoing ambulatory surgery consented to the study. Patients had a 1.5 min video of their faces taken via an iPad preoperatively, which was analyzed using VPPG to obtain RR information. The RR prediction by VPPG was compared to 60-s manual counting of breathing by research assistants. We found that VPPG predicted RR with 88.8% accuracy and a bias of 1.40 ± 1.96 breaths per minute. A significant and high correlation (0.87) was observed between VPPG-predicted and manually recorded RR. These results did not change with the ethnicity of patients. The success rate of the VPPG technology was 99.1%. Contactless RR monitoring of surgical patients at a hospital setting using VPPG is accurate and feasible, making this technology an attractive alternative to the current approaches to RR monitoring. Future developments should focus on improving reliability of the technology.

Habitual short sleepers with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of Long COVID.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Preliminary evidence suggests that the risk of Long COVID is higher among people with pre-existing medical conditions. Based on its proven adjuvant role in immunity, habitual sleep duration may alter the risk of developing Long COVID. The objective of this study was to determine whether the odds of Long COVID are higher among those with pre-existing medical conditions, and whether the strength of this association varies by habitual sleep duration. METHODS: Using data from 13,461 respondents from 16 countries who participated in the 2021 survey-based International COVID Sleep Study II (ICOSS II), we studied the associations between habitual sleep duration, pre-existing medical conditions, and Long COVID. RESULTS: Of 2,508 individuals who had COVID-19, 61% reported at least 1 Long COVID symptom. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of having Long COVID was 1.8-fold higher for average-length sleepers (6-9 h/night) with pre-existing medical conditions compared with those without pre-existing medical conditions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.84 [1.18-2.90]; P = .008). The risk of Long COVID was 3-fold higher for short sleepers with pre-existing medical conditions (aOR 2.95 [1.04-8.4]; P = .043) and not significantly higher for long sleepers with pre-existing conditions (aOR 2.11 [0.93-4.77]; P = .073) compared with average-length sleepers without pre-existing conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual short nighttime sleep duration exacerbated the risk of Long COVID in individuals with pre-existing conditions. Restoring nighttime sleep to average duration represents a potentially modifiable behavioral factor to lower the odds of Long COVID for at-risk patients. CITATION: Berezin L, Waseem R, Merikanto I, et al. Habitual short sleepers with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of long COVID. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(1):111-119.

Associations between changes in habitual sleep duration and lower self-rated health among COVID-19 survivors: findings from a survey across 16 countries/regions.

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) is widely recognized as a clinically significant predictor of subsequent mortality risk. Although COVID-19 may impair SRH, this relationship has not been extensively examined. The present study aimed to examine the correlation between habitual sleep duration, changes in sleep duration after infection, and SRH in subjects who have experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Participants from 16 countries participated in the International COVID Sleep Study-II (ICOSS-II) online survey in 2021. A total of 10,794 of these participants were included in the analysis, including 1,509 COVID-19 individuals (who reported that they had tested positive for COVID-19). SRH was evaluated using a 0-100 linear visual analog scale. Habitual sleep durations of < 6 h and > 9 h were defined as short and long habitual sleep duration, respectively. Changes in habitual sleep duration after infection of ≤ -2 h and ≥ 1 h were defined as decreased or increased, respectively. RESULTS: Participants with COVID-19 had lower SRH scores than non-infected participants, and those with more severe COVID-19 had a tendency towards even lower SRH scores. In a multivariate regression analysis of participants who had experienced COVID-19, both decreased and increased habitual sleep duration after infection were significantly associated with lower SRH after controlling for sleep quality (ß = -0.056 and -0.058, respectively, both p < 0.05); however, associations between current short or long habitual sleep duration and SRH were negligible. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that decreased habitual sleep duration was significantly related to increased fatigue (odds ratio [OR] = 1.824, p < 0.01), shortness of breath (OR = 1.725, p < 0.05), diarrhea/nausea/vomiting (OR = 2.636, p < 0.01), and hallucinations (OR = 5.091, p < 0.05), while increased habitual sleep duration was significantly related to increased fatigue (OR = 1.900, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in habitual sleep duration following SARS-CoV-2 infection were associated with lower SRH. Decreased or increased habitual sleep duration might have a bidirectional relation with post-COVID-19 symptoms. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying these relationships for in order to improve SRH in individuals with COVID-19.

The association of insomnia with long COVID: An international collaborative study (ICOSS-II).

OBJECTIVE: There is evidence of a strong association between insomnia and COVID-19, yet few studies have examined the relationship between insomnia and long COVID. This study aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 patients with pre-pandemic insomnia have a greater risk of developing long COVID and whether long COVID is in turn associated with higher incident rates of insomnia symptoms after infection. METHODS: Data were collected cross-sectionally (May-Dec 2021) as part of an international collaborative study involving participants from 16 countries. A total of 2311 participants (18-99 years old) with COVID-19 provided valid responses to a web-based survey about sleep, insomnia, and health-related variables. Log-binomial regression was used to assess bidirectional associations between insomnia and long COVID. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and health conditions, including sleep apnea, attention and memory problems, chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients with pre-pandemic insomnia showed a higher risk of developing long COVID than those without pre-pandemic insomnia (70.8% vs 51.4%; adjusted relative risk [RR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.65). Among COVID-19 cases without pre-pandemic insomnia, the rates of incident insomnia symptoms after infection were 24.1% for short COVID cases and 60.6% for long COVID cases (p < .001). Compared with short COVID cases, long COVID cases were associated with an increased risk of developing insomnia symptoms (adjusted RR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.50-2.66). CONCLUSIONS: The findings support a bidirectional relationship between insomnia and long COVID. These findings highlight the importance of addressing sleep and insomnia in the prevention and management of long COVID.

Diagnostic accuracy of Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire by participant and informant-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (AD8) is a screening tool for cognitive impairment that can be administered to older persons and/or their informants. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and compare the predictive parameters of the informant and participant-completed Ascertain Dementia 8-item Questionnaire (iAD8 and pAD8, respectively) in older adults with cognitive impairment. METHODS/DESIGN: We searched ten electronic databases (including MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase) from tool inception to March 2022. We included studies with patients ≥60 years old that were screened for cognitive impairment using AD8 in any healthcare setting. Predictive parameters were assessed against reference standards to estimate accuracy and diagnostic ability using bivariate random-effects meta-analyses. We used QUADAS-2 criteria to assess risk of bias. RESULTS: A cut-off of ≥2/8 was used to classify mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia). Seven studies using the iAD8 (n = 794) showed a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 79% to detect MCI. Nine studies using the iAD8 (n = 2393) established 91% sensitivity and 64% specificity to detect dementia. To detect MCI using the pAD8, four studies (n = 836) showed 57% sensitivity and 71% specificity. To detect dementia using the pAD8, four studies (n = 3015) demonstrated 82% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Recurring high or unclear risk of bias was noted in the domains of "Index test" and "reference standard". CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic accuracy of iAD8 is superior to that of pAD8 when screening for cognitive impairment. The AD8 may be an acceptable alternative to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults when there are limitations to formal testing.

The impact of semi-upright position on severity of sleep disordered breathing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a two-arm, prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The severity of sleep-disordered breathing is known to worsen postoperatively and is associated with increased cardio-pulmonary complications and increased resource implications. In the general population, the semi-upright position has been used in the management of OSA. We hypothesized that the use of a semi-upright position versus a non-elevated position will reduce postoperative worsening of OSA in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgeries. METHODS: This study was conducted as a prospective randomized controlled trial of perioperative patients, undergoing elective non-cardiac inpatient surgeries. Patients underwent a preoperative sleep study using a portable polysomnography device. Patients with OSA (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 5 events/hr), underwent a sleep study on postoperative night 2 (N2) after being randomized into an intervention group (Group I): semi-upright position (30 to 45 degrees incline), or a control group (Group C) (zero degrees from horizontal). The primary outcome was postoperative AHI on N2. The secondary outcomes were obstructive apnea index (OAI), central apnea index (CAI), hypopnea index (HI), obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) and oxygenation parameters. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included. Twenty-one patients were assigned to the Group 1 (females-14 (67%); mean age 65 ± 12) while there were fourteen patients in the Group C (females-5 (36%); mean age 63 ± 10). The semi-upright position resulted in a significant reduction in OAI in the intervention arm (Group C vs Group I postop AHI: 16.6 ± 19.0 vs 8.6 ± 11.2 events/hr; overall p = 0.01), but there were no significant differences in the overall AHI or other parameters between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of patients with "supine related OSA" revealed a decreasing trend in postoperative AHI with semi-upright position, but the sample size was too small to evaluate statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In patients with newly diagnosed OSA, the semi-upright position resulted in improvement in obstructive apneas, but not the overall AHI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov NCT02152202 on 02/06/2014.

Association between postoperative delirium and adverse outcomes in older surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of postoperative delirium and its outcomes in older non-cardiac surgical patients. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis with multiple databases searched from inception to February 22, 2022. SETTING: Postoperative assessments. PATIENTS: Non-cardiac and non-neurological surgical patients aged ≥60 years with and without postoperative delirium. Included studies must report ≥1 postoperative outcome. Studies with a small sample size (N < 100 subjects) were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes comprised the pooled incidence of postoperative delirium and its postoperative outcomes, including mortality, complications, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, length of stay, and non-home discharge. For dichotomous and continuous outcomes, OR and difference in means were computed, respectively, with a 95% CI. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-four studies (20,988 patients, 31 elective studies, 23 emergency studies) were included. The pooled incidence of postoperative delirium was 19% (95% CI: 16%, 23%) after elective surgery and 32% (95% CI: 25%, 39%) after emergency surgery. In elective surgery, postoperative delirium was associated with increased mortality at 1-month (OR: 6.60; 95% CI: 1.58, 27.66), 6-month (OR: 5.69; 95% CI: 2.33, 13.88), and 1-year (OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.63, 5.06). The odds of postoperative complications, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, prolonged length of hospital stay, and non-home discharge were also higher in delirium cases. In emergency surgery, patients with postoperative delirium had greater odds of mortality at 1-month (OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.77, 7.15), 6-month (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.88, 3.61), and 1-year (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.77, 3.00). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative delirium was associated with higher odds of mortality, postoperative complications, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, length of hospital stay, and non-home discharge. Prevention and perioperative management of delirium may optimize surgical outcomes.

The effectiveness of supplemental oxygen and high-flow nasal cannula therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in different clinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of supplemental oxygen therapy and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in different clinical settings to assess its application to surgical patients in the postoperative setting. DESIGN: A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE and other databases from 1946 to December 16th, 2021. Title and abstract screening were conducted independently, and the lead investigators resolved conflicts. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model and are presented as mean difference and standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. These were calculated using RevMan 5.4. PATIENTS: 1395 and 228 OSA patients underwent oxygen therapy and HFNC therapy respectively. INTERVENTIONS: Oxygen therapy and HFNC therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2), cumulative time with SPO2 < 90% (CT90). MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-seven oxygen therapy studies were included in the review, with ten randomized controlled trials (RCT), seven randomized crossovers, seven non-randomized crossovers, and three prospective cohorts. Pooled analyses showed that oxygen therapy significantly reduced AHI by 31% and increased SpO2 by 5% versus baseline, and CPAP significantly reduced AHI by 84%, and increased SpO2 by 3% versus baseline. CPAP was 53% more effective in reducing AHI than oxygen therapy, but both treatments had similar effectiveness in increasing SpO2. Nine HFNC studies were included in the review, with five prospective cohorts, three randomized crossovers, and one RCT. Pooled analyses showed that HFNC therapy significantly reduced AHI by 36% but did not substantially increase SpO2. CONCLUSIONS: Oxygen therapy effectively reduces AHI and increases SpO2 in patients with OSA. CPAP is more effective in reducing AHI than oxygen therapy. HFNC therapy is effective in reducing AHI. Although both oxygen therapy and HFNC therapy effectively reduce AHI, more research is needed to draw conclusions on clinical outcomes.