The OSA patient journey: pathways for diagnosis and treatment among commercially insured individuals in the United States.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to characterize obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) care pathways among commercially insured individuals in the United States and to investigate between-groups differences in population, care delivery, and economic aspects. METHODS: We identified adults with OSA using a large, national administrative claims database (January 1, 2016-February 28, 2020). Inclusion criteria included a diagnostic sleep test on or within ≤ 12 months of OSA diagnosis (index date) and 12 months of continuous enrollment before and after the index date. Exclusion criteria included prior OSA treatment or central sleep apnea. OSA care pathways were identified using sleep testing health care procedural health care common procedure coding system/current procedural terminology codes then selected for analysis if they were experienced by ≥ 3% of the population and assessed for baseline demographic/clinical characteristics that were also used for model adjustment. Primary outcome was positive airway pressure initiation rate; secondary outcomes were time from first sleep test to initiation of positive airway pressure, sleep test costs, and health care resource utilization. Associations between pathway type and time to treatment initiation were assessed using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Of 86,827 adults with OSA, 92.1% received care in 1 of 5 care pathways that met criteria: home sleep apnea testing (HSAT; 30.8%), polysomnography (PSG; 23.6%), PSG-Titration (19.8%), Split-night (14.8%), and HSAT-Titration (3.2%). Pathways had significantly different demographic and clinical characteristics. HSAT-Titration had the highest positive airway pressure initiation rate (84.6%) and PSG the lowest (34.4%). After adjustments, time to treatment initiation was significantly associated with pathway (P < .0001); Split-night had shortest duration (median, 28 days), followed by HSAT (36), PSG (37), PSG-Titration (58), and HSAT-Titration (75). HSAT had the lowest sleep test costs and health care resource utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct OSA care pathways exist and are associated with differences in population, care delivery, and economic aspects. CITATION: Wickwire EM, Zhang X, Munson SH, et al. The OSA patient journey: pathways for diagnosis and treatment among commercially insured individuals in the United States. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(4):505-514.

Long-term health outcomes for patients with obstructive sleep apnea: placing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report in context-a multisociety commentary.

This multisociety commentary critically examines the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) final report and systematic review on long-term health outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea. The AHRQ report was commissioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and particularly focused on the long-term patient-centered outcomes of continuous positive airway pressure, the variability of sleep-disordered breathing metrics, and the validity of these metrics as surrogate outcomes. This commentary raises concerns regarding the AHRQ report conclusions and their potential implications for policy decisions. A major concern expressed in this commentary is that the AHRQ report inadequately acknowledges the benefits of continuous positive airway pressure for several established, long-term clinically important outcomes including excessive sleepiness, motor vehicle accidents, and blood pressure. While acknowledging the limited evidence for the long-term benefits of continuous positive airway pressure treatment, especially cardiovascular outcomes, as summarized by the AHRQ report, this commentary reviews the limitations of recent randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled studies and the challenges of conducting future randomized controlled trials. A research agenda to address these challenges is proposed including study designs that may include both high quality randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled studies. This commentary concludes by highlighting implications for the safety and quality of life for the millions of people living with obstructive sleep apnea if the AHRQ report alone was used by payers to limit coverage for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea while not considering the totality of available evidence. CITATION: Patil SP, Billings ME, Bourjeily G, et al. Long-term health outcomes for patients with obstructive sleep apnea: placing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report in context-a multisociety commentary. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(1):135-149.

Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement.

The period of the year from spring to fall, when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time, is called daylight saving time, and its beginning and ending dates and times are set by federal law. The human biological clock is regulated by the timing of light and darkness, which then dictates sleep and wake rhythms. In daily life, the timing of exposure to light is generally linked to the social clock. When the solar clock is misaligned with the social clock, desynchronization occurs between the internal circadian rhythm and the social clock. The yearly change between standard time and daylight saving time introduces this misalignment, which has been associated with risks to physical and mental health and safety, as well as risks to public health. In 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) published a position statement advocating for the elimination of seasonal time changes, suggesting that evidence best supports the adoption of year-round standard time. This updated statement cites new evidence and support for permanent standard time. It is the position of the AASM that the United States should eliminate seasonal time changes in favor of permanent standard time, which aligns best with human circadian biology. Evidence supports the distinct benefits of standard time for health and safety, while also underscoring the potential harms that result from seasonal time changes to and from daylight saving time. CITATION: Rishi MA, Cheng JY, Strang AR, et al. Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(1):121-125.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for obstructive sleep apnoea: comparing adherence to active and sham therapy.

Background: Mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder associated with daytime sleepiness and impaired quality of life. Given that adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in OSA is suboptimal, alternative strategies are needed particularly for patients with mild OSA. Daytime neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the tongue is a new therapeutic modality for mild OSA. The objective of this study was to determine if patients with mild OSA adhere to daytime NMES. Methods: A randomised, sham-controlled, double-masked controlled trial was conducted in 40 patients with mild OSA who received either high-intensity (active) or low-intensity (sham) NMES for 6 weeks. The primary end-point was adherence to therapy. Exploratory outcomes included the respiratory event index (REI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score. Results: More than 90% of participants in each arm were adherent to NMES. Exploratory analyses revealed a 32.7% (95% CI 15.5-49.9%) drop in the REI with active NMES, with no significant change in the REI with sham NMES. Improvements were larger in the supine than non-supine REI. Both the apnoea index and hypopnoea index improved with active NMES. Finally, the ESS score improved with active but not with sham NMES. Conclusions: Daytime NMES was well accepted, with a majority using it for the recommended period. NMES of the tongue use was associated with improvements in OSA severity and daytime sleepiness. Additional research is needed to define its role in the treatment armamentarium across the spectrum of OSA severity and in patients who are intolerant to PAP therapy.

Strategies to Assess the Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Long-Term Clinically Important Outcomes among Patients with Symptomatic Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although CPAP improves symptoms (e.g., daytime sleepiness), there is a lack of high-quality evidence that CPAP prevents many long-term outcomes, including cognitive impairment, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Observational studies suggest that patients with symptoms may be particularly likely to experience these preventive benefits with CPAP, but ethical and practical concerns limited the participation of such patients in prior long-term randomized trials. As a result, there is uncertainty about the full benefits of CPAP, and resolving this uncertainty is a key priority for the field. This workshop assembled clinicians, researchers, ethicists, and patients to identify strategies to understand the causal effects of CPAP on long-term clinically important outcomes among patients with symptomatic OSA. Quasi-experimental designs can provide valuable information and are less time and resource intensive than trials. Under specific conditions and assumptions, quasi-experimental studies may be able to provide causal estimates of CPAP's effectiveness from generalizable observational cohorts. However, randomized trials represent the most reliable approach to understanding the causal effects of CPAP among patients with symptoms. Randomized trials of CPAP can ethically include patients with symptomatic OSA, as long as there is outcome-specific equipoise, adequate informed consent, and a plan to maximize safety while minimizing harm (e.g., monitoring for pathologic sleepiness). Furthermore, multiple strategies exist to ensure the generalizability and practicality of future randomized trials of CPAP. These strategies include reducing the burden of trial procedures, improving patient-centeredness, and engaging historically excluded and underserved populations.

The effects of an exercise intervention on executive function among overweight adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with poorer executive function. This study examined the effects of a comprehensive exercise intervention on executive function in overweight adults with mild and moderate-to-severe OSA. METHODS: Participants aged between 30 and 65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 27 to 42 kg/m2, participated in a 6-week exercise program. Standardized polysomnographic recording methods provided total Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and level of hypoxemia. Executive function was assessed using the NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control Test. A submaximal treadmill exercise test evaluated cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants with baseline total AHI between 5 and 14.9 events/h were classified as mild OSA and participants with baseline total AHI 15 ≥ events/h were classified as moderate-to-severe OSA. RESULTS: Fifteen participants completed 18 exercise sessions. Significant differences between OSA categories at baseline were observed for sleep characteristics, but not for fitness or executive function. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests showed significant increases in median values for the Flanker Test in the moderate-to-severe category only, z = 2.429, p < .015, η2 = .737. CONCLUSION: Six weeks of exercise improved executive function in overweight individuals with moderate-to-severe OSA, but not in those with mild OSA.

Optimal NIV Medicare Access Promotion: Patients With OSA: A Technical Expert Panel Report From the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the American Thoracic Society.

This document summarizes the work of the CPAP and bilevel PAP therapy for OSA Technical Expert Panel working group. For positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, the most pressing current coverage barriers identified were: an insufficient symptom list describing all potential symptoms in patients with mild OSA; the 4 h per night of PAP usage requirement to keep the device; the additional sleep studies requirement to re-qualify for PAP or supplemental oxygen; and the inability to use telehealth visits for follow-up visits. Critical evidence supports changes to current policies and includes: symptom list inadequate to cover all scenarios based on updated clinical practice guidelines; published evidence that 2 h per night of PAP use can result in benefit to quality of life and other metrics; the costs of another sleep study not justified for all nonadherent patients or for supplemental oxygen due to other types of assessment currently available; and the remarkable success and acceptance of telehealth visits. To achieve optimal access for patients on PAP therapy, we make the following key suggestions: removing symptom criteria for mild OSA; reduce continued coverage criteria to > 2 h per night; eliminate the need for a sleep study to re-qualify if nonadherent or for new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services beneficiaries already on and adherent to PAP therapy; allow telehealth visits for documenting benefit and adherence; and allow PAP reports and domiciliary oximetry to qualify for supplemental oxygen with PAP if needed. This paper shares our best vision for bringing the right device to the right patient at the right time.

The effects of exercise training on vascular function among overweight adults with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity due, in part, to impaired vascular function. Exercise confers cardioprotection by improving vascular health. Yet, whether OSA severity affects the vascular improvements conferred with exercise training is not known. Overweight (body mass index (BMI) >27 kg/m2) adults were evaluated for OSA and enrolled in a six-week exercise intervention. Baseline assessments of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD), central augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were repeated post training. Fifty-one participants (25 men; 26 women) completed the study. Despite improved aerobic capacity (p=0.0005) and total fat mass (p=0.0005), no change in vascular function was observed. Participants were divided into two severity groups according to their baseline total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as either 5 to 14.9 events•hr-1 (n= 21; Age=48 ± 7 yrs; BMI=33.7 ± 4.6kg•m-2) or 15 ≥events•hr-1 (n=30; Age=56 ± 13 yrs; BMI = 34.3 ± 4.2 kg•m-2). No effect of OSA group was observed for BAFMD (p=0.82), AIx (p=0.37) or PWV (p=0.44), suggesting that OSA severity does not influence the effect of exercise on vascular function. The vascular effects of extended exercise programs of greater intensity in overweight OSA patients should be examined.

Restoring Pulmonary and Sleep Services as the COVID-19 Pandemic Lessens. From an Association of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Division Directors and American Thoracic Society-coordinated Task Force.

Background: In March 2020, many elective medical services were canceled in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The daily case rate is now declining in many states and there is a need for guidance about the resumption of elective clinical services for patients with lung disease or sleep conditions.Methods: Volunteers were solicited from the Association of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Division Directors and American Thoracic Society. Working groups developed plans by discussion and consensus for resuming elective services in pulmonary and sleep-medicine clinics, pulmonary function testing laboratories, bronchoscopy and procedure suites, polysomnography laboratories, and pulmonary rehabilitation facilities.Results: The community new case rate should be consistently low or have a downward trajectory for at least 14 days before resuming elective clinical services. In addition, institutions should have an operational strategy that consists of patient prioritization, screening, diagnostic testing, physical distancing, infection control, and follow-up surveillance. The goals are to protect patients and staff from exposure to the virus, account for limitations in staff, equipment, and space that are essential for the care of patients with COVID-19, and provide access to care for patients with acute and chronic conditions.Conclusions: Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a dynamic process and, therefore, it is likely that the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community will wax and wane. This will impact an institution's mitigation needs. Operating procedures should be frequently reassessed and modified as needed. The suggestions provided are those of the authors and do not represent official positions of the Association of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Division Directors or the American Thoracic Society.

Variability and Misclassification of Sleep Apnea Severity Based on Multi-Night Testing.

BACKGROUND: Portable monitoring is a convenient means for diagnosing sleep apnea. However, data on whether one night of monitoring is sufficiently precise for the diagnosis of sleep apnea are limited. RESEARCH QUESTION: The current study sought to determine the variability and misclassification in disease severity over three consecutive nights in a large sample of patients referred for sleep apnea. METHODS: A sample of 10,340 adults referred for sleep apnea testing was assessed. A self-applied type III monitor was used for three consecutive nights. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was determined for each night, and a reference AHI was computed by using data from all 3 nights. Pairwise correlations and the proportion misclassified regarding disease severity were computed for each of the three AHI values against the reference AHI. RESULTS: Strong correlations were observed between the AHI from each of the 3 nights (r = 0.87-0.89). However, substantial within-patient variability in the AHI and significant misclassification in sleep apnea severity were observed based on any 1 night of monitoring. Approximately 93% of the patients with a normal study on the first night and 87% of those with severe sleep apnea on the first night were correctly classified compared with the reference derived from all three nights. However, approximately 20% of the patients with mild and moderate sleep apnea on the first night were misdiagnosed either as not having sleep apnea or as having mild disease, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, one night of portable testing can lead to misclassification of disease severity given the substantial night-to-night variability in the AHI.

Addressing gaps between payer policies and AASM clinical practice guidelines using scorecards.

None: The Payer Policy Review Committee of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine launched an initiative to assess the alignment between clinical practice guidelines and private payer medical policies. This article summarizes the importance of the initiative, details the scorecard development process, including an analysis of policy scores and subsequent revisions, and discusses the impact of the scorecards particularly as related to the scorecards on the clinical practice guideline for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in adults. This initiative has increased communication and engagement among members of the Payer Policy Review Committee and private payers, creating opportunities to advocate on behalf of sleep medicine providers and patients with sleep disorders, encouraging payers to modify existing policies so that evidence-based care is provided to patients with sleep disorders.

Sleep disordered breathing in Marfan syndrome: Value of standard screening questionnaires.

BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) has been reported in persons with Marfan syndrome (MFS), a single gene disorder of connective tissue resulting in premature death from aortic rupture. The burden of SDB and accompanying hemodynamic stress could warrant broad screening in this population. Our goal was to assess the utility of traditional SDB screening tools in our sample of persons with MFS. METHODS: Participants were recruited during an annual Marfan Foundation meeting and Marfan status confirmed using the Ghent criteria. Screening questionnaires were administered and SDB assessed by home sleep testing. We assessed accuracy of screening tools using receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate-severe SDB was 32% in our sample of 31 MFS participants. The Stop-Bang questionnaire had the highest positive predictive value (PPV) of 60% and the highest negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% using the high- and moderate-risk cut-offs, respectively, and the Berlin questionnaire had a PPV of 50% and an NPV of 92.3% at the high-risk cut-off. When those with mild SDB were included, the Stop-Bang and the Sleep Apnea Clinical Score (SACS) questionnaires demonstrated useful screening accuracies with PPVs of 94.7% and 92.9%, and NPVs of 63.6% and 47.1%, respectively, at the moderate-risk cut-offs. CONCLUSION: A survey of SDB in a sample of persons with MFS reveals not only a high burden of SDB but also that conventional screening instruments have utility if adapted appropriately. Future studies should validate the utility of these screening tools given concerns that SDB may contribute to progression of aortic pathology in MFS.

Evaluation and Management of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Background: The purpose of this guideline is to optimize evaluation and management of patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS).Methods: A multidisciplinary panel identified and prioritized five clinical questions. The panel performed systematic reviews of available studies (up to July 2018) and followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation evidence-to-decision framework to develop recommendations. All panel members discussed and approved the recommendations.Recommendations: After considering the overall very low quality of the evidence, the panel made five conditional recommendations. We suggest that: 1) clinicians use a serum bicarbonate level <27 mmol/L to exclude the diagnosis of OHS in obese patients with sleep-disordered breathing when suspicion for OHS is not very high (<20%) but to measure arterial blood gases in patients strongly suspected of having OHS, 2) stable ambulatory patients with OHS receive positive airway pressure (PAP), 3) continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) rather than noninvasive ventilation be offered as the first-line treatment to stable ambulatory patients with OHS and coexistent severe obstructive sleep apnea, 4) patients hospitalized with respiratory failure and suspected of having OHS be discharged with noninvasive ventilation until they undergo outpatient diagnostic procedures and PAP titration in the sleep laboratory (ideally within 2-3 mo), and 5) patients with OHS use weight-loss interventions that produce sustained weight loss of 25% to 30% of body weight to achieve resolution of OHS (which is more likely to be obtained with bariatric surgery).Conclusions: Clinicians may use these recommendations, on the basis of the best available evidence, to guide management and improve outcomes among patients with OHS.

Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Positive Airway Pressure: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline.

INTRODUCTION: This guideline establishes clinical practice recommendations for positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults and is intended for use in conjunction with other American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines in the evaluation and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in adults. METHODS: The AASM commissioned a task force of experts in sleep medicine. A systematic review was conducted to identify studies, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) process was used to assess the evidence. The task force developed recommendations and assigned strengths based on the quality of evidence, the balance of clinically significant benefits and harms, patient values and preferences, and resource use. In addition, the task force adopted recommendations from prior guidelines as "good practice statements" that establish the basis for appropriate and effective treatment of OSA. The AASM Board of Directors approved the final recommendations. GOOD PRACTICE STATEMENTS: The following good practice statements are based on expert consensus, and their implementation is necessary for appropriate and effective management of patients with OSA treated with positive airway pressure: (1) Treatment of OSA with PAP therapy should be based on a diagnosis of OSA established using objective sleep apnea testing. (2) Adequate follow-up, including troubleshooting and monitoring of objective efficacy and usage data to ensure adequate treatment and adherence, should occur following PAP therapy initiation and during treatment of OSA. RECOMMENDATIONS: The following recommendations are intended as a guide for clinicians using PAP to treat OSA in adults. A STRONG (ie, "We recommend…") recommendation is one that clinicians should follow under most circumstances. A CONDITIONAL recommendation (ie, "We suggest…") reflects a lower degree of certainty regarding the outcome and appropriateness of the patient-care strategy for all patients. The ultimate judgment regarding any specific care must be made by the treating clinician and the patient, taking into consideration the individual circumstances of the patient, available treatment options, and resources. (1) We recommend that clinicians use PAP, compared to no therapy, to treat OSA in adults with excessive sleepiness. (STRONG) (2) We suggest that clinicians use PAP, compared to no therapy, to treat OSA in adults with impaired sleep-related quality of life. (CONDITIONAL) (3) We suggest that clinicians use PAP, compared to no therapy, to treat OSA in adults with comorbid hypertension. (CONDITIONAL) (4) We recommend that PAP therapy be initiated using either APAP at home or in-laboratory PAP titration in adults with OSA and no significant comorbidities. (STRONG) (5) We recommend that clinicians use either CPAP or APAP for ongoing treatment of OSA in adults. (STRONG) (6) We suggest that clinicians use CPAP or APAP over BPAP in the routine treatment of OSA in adults. (CONDITIONAL) (7) We recommend that educational interventions be given with initiation of PAP therapy in adults with OSA. (STRONG) (8) We suggest that behavioral and/or troubleshooting interventions be given during the initial period of PAP therapy in adults with OSA. (CONDITIONAL) (9) We suggest that clinicians use telemonitoring-guided interventions during the initial period of PAP therapy in adults with OSA. (CONDITIONAL).

Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Positive Airway Pressure: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and GRADE Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this systematic review is to provide supporting evidence for the clinical practice guideline for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults using positive airway pressure (PAP). METHODS: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned a task force of experts in sleep medicine. A systematic review was conducted to identify studies that compared the use of PAP with no treatment as well as studies that compared different PAP modalities. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the clinical significance of using PAP in several modalities (ie, continuous PAP, auto-adjusting PAP, and bilevel PAP), to treat OSA in adults. In addition, meta-analyses were performed to determine the clinical significance of using an in-laboratory versus ambulatory strategy for the initiation of PAP, educational and behavioral interventions, telemonitoring, humidification, different mask interfaces, and flexible or modified pressure profile PAP in conjunction with PAP to treat OSA in adults. Finally, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) process was used to assess the evidence for making recommendations. RESULTS: The literature search resulted in 336 studies that met inclusion criteria; 184 studies provided data suitable for meta-analyses. The data demonstrated that PAP compared to no treatment results in a clinically significant reduction in disease severity, sleepiness, blood pressure, and motor vehicle accidents, and improvement in sleep-related quality of life in adults with OSA. In addition, the initiation of PAP in the home demonstrated equivalent effects on patient outcomes when compared to an in-laboratory titration approach. The data also demonstrated that the use of auto-adjusting or bilevel PAP did not result in clinically significant differences in patient outcomes compared with standard continuous PAP. Furthermore, data demonstrated a clinically significant improvement in PAP adherence with the use of educational, behavioral, troubleshooting, and telemonitoring interventions. Systematic reviews for specific PAP delivery method were also performed and suggested that nasal interfaces compared to oronasal interfaces have improved adherence and slightly greater reductions in OSA severity, heated humidification compared to no humidification reduces some continuous PAP-related side effects, and pressure profile PAP did not result in clinically significant differences in patient outcomes compared with standard continuous PAP.

Portable Sleep Monitoring for Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Sleep apnea is an underdiagnosed condition in patients with heart failure. Efficient identification of sleep apnea is needed, as treatment may improve heart failure-related outcomes. Currently, use of portable sleep monitoring in hospitalized patients and those at risk for central sleep apnea is discouraged. This study examined whether portable sleep monitoring with respiratory polygraphy can accurately diagnose sleep apnea in patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure. METHODS: Hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure underwent concurrent respiratory polygraphy and polysomnography. Both recordings were scored for obstructive and central disordered breathing events in a blinded fashion, using standard criteria, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was determined. Pearson's correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots were used to examine the concordance among the overall, obstructive, and central AHI values derived by respiratory polygraphy and polysomnography. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 53 patients (47% women) with a mean age of 59.0 years. The correlation coefficient for the overall AHI from the two diagnostic methods was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-0.96). The average difference in AHI between the two methods was 3.6 events/h. Analyses of the central and obstructive AHI values showed strong concordance between the two methods, with correlation coefficients of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96-0.99) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.84-0.95), respectively. Complete agreement in the classification of sleep apnea severity between the two methods was seen in 89% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: Portable sleep monitoring can accurately diagnose sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with heart failure and may promote early initiation of treatment.

Diet and exercise in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease risk.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. It is accepted that OSA and obesity commonly coexist. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dietary-induced weight loss and exercise as lifestyle treatment options for OSA. However, most clinical trials upon which this recommendation is based have focused on establishing the effectiveness of calorie-restricted, often low-fat diets for improving OSA severity, whereas less attention has been given to the means through which weight loss is achieved (e.g. altered dietary quality) or whether diet or exercise mediates the associations between reduced weight, improved OSA severity and the CVD substrate. The current evidence suggests that the benefits of a low-carbohydrate or Mediterranean diet in overweight and obese individuals go beyond the recognised benefits of weight reduction. In addition, exercise has an independent protective effect on vascular health, which may counter the increased oxidative stress, inflammation and sympathetic activation that occur in OSA patients. This review aims to expand our understanding of the effects of diet and exercise on OSA and associated CVD complications, and sets the stage for continued research designed to explore optimal lifestyle strategies for reducing the CVD burden in OSA patients.

Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators: Recommendations of the AASM Sleep and Transportation Safety Awareness Task Force.

ABSTRACT: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Sleep and Transportation Safety Awareness Task Force responded to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and request for public comments regarding the evaluation of safety-sensitive personnel for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The following document represents this response. The most salient points provided in our comments are that (1) moderate-to-severe OSA is common among commercial motor vehicle operators (CMVOs) and contributes to an increased risk of crashes; (2) objective screening methods are available and preferred for identifying at-risk drivers, with the most commonly used indicator being body mass index; (3) treatment in the form of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective and reduces crashes; (4) CPAP is economically viable; (5) guidelines are available to assist medical examiners in determining whether CMVOs with moderate-to-severe OSA should continue to work without restrictions, with conditional certification, or be disqualified from operating commercial motor vehicles.