Pneumonic and non-pneumonic exacerbations in bronchiectasis: Clinical and microbiological differences.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the clinical relevance of exacerbations in bronchiectasis (BE), little is known about the microbiology and outcomes of pneumonic (CAP) vs. non-pneumonic (NOCAP) exacerbations. METHODS: This study compares clinical and microbiological characteristics of CAP vs. NOCAP in adults with BE. We performed a multicenter prospective observational study of consecutive cases of NOCAP and CAP from four Spanish hospitals (2011-2015). RESULTS: We recruited 144 patients, 47 of them CAP (33%) cases. CAP patients were older, with a larger representation of males, more comorbidities, higher arterial hypertension and COPD but less chronic bronchial infection and previous history of exacerbations. Clinical presentation was similar, excepting creatinine, C-reactive protein (C-RP), glucose and leukocytes which were higher in CAP. C-RP of 8.38 mg/dL showed a significant predictive discrimination for CAP. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the first causes of CAP and NOCAP, respectively. The rate of microbiological concordance with previous chronic bronchial infection was variable. Main clinical outcomes (mortality, length of stay, etc.) were similar in the two groups. Chronic bronchial infection and history of frequent exacerbations (≥ 2/year) were associated with a reduced risk of CAP. CONCLUSIONS: CAP and NOCAP in BE had similar clinical presentation with the exception of fever, leukocytosis, and C-RP. Microbiology also differed. A cut-off value of C-RP ≥ 8.38 mg/dL can predict CAP in bronchiectasis.

Reliability and Validity of the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire - Spanish Short Version (FOSQ-10SV) in Peruvian Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to verify the reliability and validity of the Spanish short version of the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ-10SV) in Peruvian patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Participants underwent physical examinations, completed the FOSQ-10SV, and polysomnography tests were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 672 patients were analyzed, 75 females (11%), mean age 50.5 ± 13.8 years. A total of 563 patients (84%) had OSA. The mean FOSQ-10SV score was 15.96 ± 3.23. The FOSQ-10SV Cronbach alpha was 0.84 and two significant factors were extracted in the factor analysis-both factors explained a variance of 43% and 14%. A significant correlation was found between the FOSQ-10SV score and the apnea-hypopnea index. Patients with more severe disease have a lower FOSQ-10SV score (P = .003). Ninety-nine patients with OSA who started continuous positive airway pressure treatment were followed, and we observed an improvement in the FOSQ-10SV score from pretreatment to posttreatment (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The FOSQ-10SV has internal consistency, construct validity, and the sensitivity to change in Peruvian patients with OSA who undergo treatment.

Factors associated with hospitalization in bronchiectasis exacerbations: a one-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis (BE) is a chronic structural lung disease with frequent exacerbations, some of which require hospital admission though no clear associated factors have been identified. We aimed to evaluate factors associated with hospitalization due to exacerbations during a 1-year follow-up period. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed in patients recruited from specialized BE clinics. We considered all exacerbations diagnosed and treated with antibiotics during a follow-up period of 1 year. The protocol recorded baseline variables, usual treatments, Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI) and FACED scores, comorbid conditions and prior hospitalizations. RESULTS: Two hundred and 65 patients were recruited, of whom 162 required hospital admission during the follow-up period. Independent risk factors for hospital admission were age, previous hospitalization due to BE, use of proton pump inhibitors, heart failure, FACED and BSI, whereas pneumococcal vaccination was a protective factor. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.799 for BSI model was 0.799, and 0.813 for FACED model. CONCLUSIONS: Previous hospitalization, use of proton pump inhibitors, heart failure along with BSI or FACED scores is associated factors for developing exacerbations that require hospitalization. Pneumococcal vaccination was protective. This information may be useful for the design of preventive strategies and more intensive follow-up plans.

Risk factors for multidrug-resistant pathogens in bronchiectasis exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is a chronic structural lung condition that courses with recurrent infectious exacerbations that lead to frequent antibiotic treatment making this population more susceptible to acquire pathogens with antibiotic resistance. We aimed to investigate risk factors associated with isolation of multidrug-resistant pathogens in bronchiectasis exacerbations. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in two tertiary-care hospitals, enrolling patients when first exacerbation appeared. Multidrug-resistance was determined according to European Centre of Diseases Prevention and Control classification. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty three exacerbations were included and microorganisms were isolated in 159 episodes. Multidrug-resistant pathogens were found in 20.1% episodes: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (48.5%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (18.2%) and Extended spectrum betalactamase + Enterobacteriaceae (6.1%), and they were more frequent in exacerbations requiring hospitalization (24.5% vs. 10.2%, p: 0.016). Three independent multidrug-resistant risk factors were found: chronic renal disease (Odds ratio (OR), 7.60, 95% CI 1.92-30.09), hospitalization in the previous year (OR, 3.88 95% CI 1.37-11.02) and prior multidrug-resistant isolation (OR, 5.58, 95% CI 2.02-15.46). The proportion of multidrug-resistant in the 233 exacerbations was as follows: 3.9% in patients without risk factors, 12.6% in those with 1 factor and 53.6% if ≥2 risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization in the previous year, chronic renal disease, and prior multidrug-resistant isolation are risk factors for identification multidrug-resistant pathogens in exacerbations. This information may assist clinicians in choosing empirical antibiotics in daily clinical practice.

The Role of Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors in Lung Diseases.

In many respiratory diseases characterized by an intense inflammatory response, the balance between proteolytic enzymes (proteases, including elastases) and their inhibitors (proteinases inhibitors) is not neutral. Excess activity of neutrophil elastase (NE) and similar proteases has been reported to cause tissue damage and to alter the remodeling process in many clinical conditions such as pneumonia, respiratory distress, and acute lung injury (ALI). Several experimental NE inhibitors have been tested in preclinical and clinical studies of different conditions of inflammatory lung injury such as ALI and pneumonia, with contrasting results. This study reviews the literature regarding NE inhibitors in the field of respiratory diseases and reflects on possible future developments. In particular, we highlight potential gaps in the scientific evidence and discuss potential strategies for focusing investigation on antielastases in clinical practice through the selection of targeted populations and proper outcomes.

Sleep habits, fatigue, and sleepiness in Chiclayo-Peru's bus drivers.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the study are to describe sleep habits, fatigue, and sleepiness in Chiclayo's (Peru) bus drivers and explore their relation with traffic accidents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a non-probability consecutive sampling. The sample size was 126 drivers. Sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and sleep hygiene with validated questionnaires. We used a history of traffic accident or a near-traffic accident as an independent variable and applied chi-squared, t, and Mann-Whitney U tests to evaluate initial associations, which were later tested with a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.8 ± 9, 7 years, all were male. Twenty-seven (21%) bus drivers drove 10 or more hours per day; twenty-seven (21%) drove 5 or more hours without stopping; and eleven (9%) slept less than 6 h per day. Ninety-three (74%) drivers had fatigue while driving; thirty-one (25%) sleepiness; thirty-six (29%) had an accident or near accident; and (35%) had nodding while driving. Nodding while driving (PR 2.13, IC 1.26-3.59, p < 0.01) and the number of years as a driver (PR 1.03, IC 1.00-1.05, p = 0.02) were associated with an accident or near accident. CONCLUSION: Fatigue, sleepiness, and a history of accident or near accident were frequent. Having had an accident or near accident was significantly associated with nodding while driving and the number of years as a driver in Chiclayo's bus drivers.

Comparison of two prognostic scores (BSI and FACED) in a Spanish cohort of adult patients with bronchiectasis and improvement of the FACED predictive capacity for exacerbations.

Bronchiectasis (BE) is a chronic and heterogeneous respiratory disease that requires a multidimensional scoring system to properly assess severity. The aim of this study was to compare the severity stratification by 2 validated scores (BSI and FACED) in a BE cohort and to determine their predictive capacity for exacerbations and hospitalizations. Moreover, we proposed a modified version of FACED which was created to better predict the risk of exacerbations in clinical practice. We performed a prospective cohort study including BE patients >18 years old with a follow-up period of 1-year. One-hundred eighty-two patients (40% males; mean age 68) were studied. Patients were stratified according to the number of exacerbations during the follow-up, and according to BSI and FACED scores. BSI classified most of our patients as severe 99 (54.4%) or moderate 47 (25.8%), while FACED mainly classified as mild 108 (59.3%) or moderate 61 (33.5%). BSI and FACED showed an area under ROC curve (AUC) for exacerbations of 0.808 and 0.734; and for hospitalizations (due to BE exacerbations) of 0.893 and 0.809, respectively. Subsequently, we modified FACED by adding previous exacerbations (Exa-FACED) and this new score classified patients as mild 48.4%, moderate 34.6% and severe 17.0%, with an improved AUC for exacerbations (0.760) and hospitalizations (0.820). Despite previous validations of BSI and FACED, they classified our patients very differently. As expected, FACED showed poor prognostic capacity for exacerbations. We support the Exa-FACED score to predict the risk future exacerbations for been easy to use in clinical practice.

Ventilatory Cycle Measurements and Loop Gain in Central Apnea in Mining Drivers Exposed to Intermittent Altitude.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: By measuring the apnea length, ventilatory phase, respiratory cycle length, and loop gain, we can further characterize the central apneas of high altitude (CAHA). METHODS: Sixty-three drivers of all-terrain vehicles, working in a Peruvian mine located at 2,020 meters above sea level (MASL), were evaluated. A respiratory polygraph was performed in the first night they slept at high altitude. None of the subjects were exposed to oxygen during the test or acetazolamide in the preceding days of the test. RESULTS: Sixty-three respiratory polygraphs were performed, and 59 were considered for analysis. Forty-six (78%) were normal, 6 (10%) had OSA, and 7 (12%) had CAHA. Key data from subjects include: residing altitude: 341 ± 828 MASL, Lake Louise scoring: 0.4 ± 0.8, Epworth score: 3.4 ± 2.7, apneahypopnea index: 35.7 ± 19.3, CA index: 13.4 ± 14.2, CA length: 14.4 ± 3.6 sec, ventilatory length: 13.5 ± 2.9 sec, cycle length: 26.5 ± 4.0 sec, ventilatory length/CA length ratio 0.9 ± 0.3 and circulatory delay 13.3 ± 2.9 sec. Duty ratio media [ventilatory duration/cycle duration] was 0.522 ± 0 0.128 [0.308-0.700] and loop gain was calculated from the duty ratio utilizing this formula: LG = 2π / [(2πDR-sin(2πDR)]. All subjects have a high loop gain media 2.415 ± 1.761 [1.175-6.260]. Multiple correlations were established with loop gain values, but the only significant correlation detected was between central apnea index and loop gain. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve percent of the studied population had CAHA. Measurements of respiratory cycle in workers with CAHA are more similar to idiopathic central apneas rather than Hunter-Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Also, there was a high degree of correlation between severity of central apnea and the degree of loop gain. The abnormal breathing patterns in those subjects could affect the sleep quality and potentially increase the risk for work accidents.

Microbiology and outcomes of community acquired pneumonia in non cystic-fibrosis bronchiectasis patients.

BACKGROUND: It is general belief that Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is characterized by frequent community-acquired pneumonia. Nonetheless, the knowledge on clinical characteristics of CAP in NCFBE is poor and no specific recommendations are available. We aim to investigate clinical and microbiological characteristics of NCFBE patients with CAP. METHODS: Prospective observational study of 3495 CAP patients (2000-2011). RESULTS: We found 90 (2.0%) NCFBE-CAP that in comparison with non-bronchiectatic CAP (n, 3405) showed older age (mean ± [SD], NCFBE-CAP 73 ± 14 vs. CAP 65 ± 19yrs), more vaccinations (pneumococcal: 35% vs. 14%; influenza: 60% vs. 42%), comorbidities (n ≥ 2: 43% vs. 25%), previous antibiotics (38% vs. 22%), and inhaled steroids (53% vs. 16%) (p < 0.05 each). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent isolate in both groups (NCFBE-CAP 44.4% vs. CAP 42.7%; p = 0.821) followed by respiratory virus, mixed infections and atypical bacteria. Considering overall frequencies of the main pathogens (including monomicrobial and mixed infections) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.5% vs. 2.9%; p < 0.001) and Enterobacteriaceae (8.8% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.025) were more prevalent in NCFBE-CAP patients than in CAP. Despite these clinical and microbiological differences, NCFBE-CAP showed similar outcomes to CAP patients (mortality, length of hospital stay, etc.). CONCLUSIONS: NCFBE-CAP patients are usually older and have more comorbidities but similar outcomes than general CAP population. Usual CAP pathogens, such as S. pneumoniae, are also involved in NCFBE-CAP but P. aeruginosa and other Enterobacteriaceae were globally more frequent than in CAP. Therefore, a wide microbiological investigation should be recommended in all NCFBE-CAP cases as well as routine pneumococcal vaccination for prevention of pneumonia.

Hábitos del sueño y accidentes de tránsito en conductores de ómnibus interprovincial de Arequipa, Perú / Sleep habits and traffic accidents in inter-provincial bus drivers of Arequipa, Peru

Con el objetivo de determinar los hábitos de sueño en los conductores de ómnibus y su relación con los accidentes en la ciudad de Arequipa, Perú, se realizó un estudio transversal y descriptivo en una muestra no probabilística de 166 conductores. Las horas de conducción por día fueron de 9,4 ± 3,7; el 54% (89) conduce más de 4 h sin detenerse; 74% (123) conducen de noche y 87% (145) duermen en el ómnibus. El 75% reconoció cansancio durante la conducción (124). El 27% (45) tuvo somnolencia; el 24% (40) refirió haberse accidentado o haber estado a punto de accidentarse durante la conducción. La somnolencia o el cansancio durante la conducción fue frecuente en esta población, y sus hábitos de conducción y descanso podrían propiciarlo.

In order to determine sleep habits in bus drivers and their relationship to accidents in the city of Arequipa, Peru, a crosssectional descriptive study was conducted in a non-probabilistic sample of 166 drivers. Driving hours per day were 9.4 ± 3.7. 54% (89) drive over 4 hours without stopping; 74% (123) drive at night; and 87% (145) sleep on the bus. 75% reported fatigue while driving (124). 27% (45) had drowsiness; 24% (40) reported having been in or on the verge of an accident while driving. Sleepiness or fatigue while driving was common in this population and their driving and rest habits could contribute to this.

Epidemiology of road traffic incidents in Peru 1973-2008: incidence, mortality, and fatality.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiological profile and trends of road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Peru have not been well-defined, though this is a necessary step to address this significant public health problem in Peru. The objective of this study was to determine trends of incidence, mortality, and fatality of RTIs in Peru during 1973-2008, as well as their relationship to population trends such as economic growth. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Secondary aggregated databases were used to estimate incidence, mortality and fatality rate ratios (IRRs) of RTIs. These estimates were standardized to age groups and sex of the 2008 Peruvian population. Negative binomial regression and cubic spline curves were used for multivariable analysis. During the 35-year period there were 952,668 road traffic victims, injured or killed. The adjusted yearly incidence of RTIs increased by 3.59 (95% CI 2.43-5.31) on average. We did not observe any significant trends in the yearly mortality rate. The total adjusted yearly fatality rate decreased by 0.26 (95% CI 0.15-0.43), while among adults the fatality rate increased by 1.25 (95% CI 1.09-1.43). Models fitted with splines suggest that the incidence follows a bimodal curve and closely followed trends in the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. CONCLUSIONS: The significant increasing incidence of RTIs in Peru affirms their growing threat to public health. A substantial improvement of information systems for RTIs is needed to create a more accurate epidemiologic profile of RTIs in Peru. This approach can be of use in other similar low and middle-income settings to inform about the local challenges posed by RTIs.

The management of severe community acquired pneumonia in the intensive care unit.

Severe CAP (SCAP), accounting for 6% of admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) needs early diagnosis and aggressive interventions at the most proximal point of disease presentation. The prognostic scores as the ATS/IDSA rule, the systolic blood pressure, multilobar infiltrates, albumin, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, oxygen and pH or SCAP system are appropriate in early identification of eligible patients requiring admission to ICU. Then the recommended initial resuscitation in SCAP in the ICU consists of fluid volume intake titrated to specific goals after a fluid challenge and hemodynamic optimization. The first selection of antimicrobial therapy should be started in the first hour and would be broad enough to cover all likely pathogens. Combination therapy may be useful in patients with non refractory septic shock and severe sepsis pneumococcal bacteremia as well. After 6 hours the patient would be reevaluated in terms of hemodynamic stability and antibiotic and therapy. Future developments will focus on sepsis biomarkers, molecular diagnostic techniques and the development of novel therapeutic immunomodulaty agents.

Pharmacotherapy for hospital-acquired pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital-acquired pneumonia is the most common life-threatening hospital-acquired infection, and the majority of cases are associated with mechanical ventilation. Once pneumonia develops, the appropriateness of the initial antibiotic regimen is a vital determinant of outcome. The slow rate of development of newer antimicrobials has led to the rediscovery of the 'old' and 'forgotten' antibiotic 'Colistin', and it is increasingly being used as salvage therapy in patients with multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria infections. AREAS COVERED: This article covers medical literature published in any language since 1990 until November 2011, on 'hospital pneumonia', identified using PubMed, MEDLINE and clinicaltrial.gov. The search terms used were 'ventilator associated pneumonia', 'management' and 'new antibiotics'. EXPERT OPINION: Many controversies still remain in the management of hospital-acquired pneumonia. A continuous evaluation of the antimicrobial therapeutic options, along with their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles, is mandatory to optimize therapy and reduce hospital pneumonia-related mortality.

[Sleep habits and traffic accidents in inter-provincial bus drivers of Arequipa, Peru]. / Hábitos del sueño y accidentes de tránsito en conductores de ómnibus interprovincial de Arequipa, Perú

In order to determine sleep habits in bus drivers and their relationship to accidents in the city of Arequipa, Peru, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a non-probabilistic sample of 166 drivers. Driving hours per day were 9.4 ± 3.7. 54% (89) drive over 4 hours without stopping; 74% (123) drive at night; and 87% (145) sleep on the bus. 75% reported fatigue while driving (124). 27% (45) had drowsiness; 24% (40) reported having been in or on the verge of an accident while driving. Sleepiness or fatigue while driving was common in this population and their driving and rest habits could contribute to this.

Patient perspectives on the promptness and quality of care of road traffic incident victims in Peru: a cross-sectional, active surveillance study.

BACKGROUND: Road injuries are the second-leading cause of disease and injury in the Andean region of South America. Adequate management of road traffic crash victims is important to prevent and reduce deaths and serious long-term injuries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the promptness of health care services provided to those injured in road traffic incidents (RTIs) and the satisfaction with those services during the pre-hospital and hospital periods. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with active surveillance to recruit participants in emergency departments at eight health care facilities in three Peruvian cities: a large metropolitan city (Lima) and two provincial cities (an urban center in the southern Andes and an urban center in the rainforest region), between August and September 2009. The main outcomes of interest were promptness of care, measured by time between injury and each service offered, as well as patient satisfaction measured by the Service Quality (SERVQUAL) survey. We explored the association between outcomes and city, type of health care facility (HCF), and type of provider. RESULTS: We recruited 644 adults seeking care for RTIs. This active surveillance strategy yielded 34% more events than anticipated, suggesting under-reporting in traditional registries. Median response time between a RTI and any care at a HCF was 33 minutes overall and only 62% of participants received professional care during the initial "golden" hour after the RTI. After adjustment for various factors, there was strong evidence of higher global dissatisfaction levels among those receiving care at public HCFs compared to private ones (odds ratio (OR) 5.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88-13.54). This difference was not observed when provincial sites were compared to Lima (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.42-4.70). CONCLUSIONS: Response time to RTIs was adequate overall, though a large proportion of RTI victims could have received more prompt care. Overall, dissatisfaction was high, mainly at public institutions indicating much need for improvements in service provision.

Clinical and polysomnographic differences between OSAH patients with/without excessive daytime sleepiness.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and polysomnographic differences found in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH), with or without excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). METHODS: A physical examination, ESS, and polysomnography were applied to all the participants, considering an ESS score of >10 to indicate EDS and an ESS score of ≥ 16 to indicate severe EDS. Univariate (chi-squared or Student's t test) and multivariate (multiple logistic regression) analysis approaches were used. A value of p < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study covered 151 OSAH patients, including 129 (85 %) male patients, 66 (44 %) with EDS and 23 (21 %) with severe EDS. In the univariate analysis of demographic and polysomnographic variables, a comparison between patients without and with EDS showed that the latter had a larger neck circumference, maximum O2 desaturation, and increased sleep time at <90 % O2 saturation, with significant statistical differences. In the multivariate analysis, this statistical significance disappears. A comparison between patients without EDS and with severe EDS did not reveal differences in demographic or polysomnographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSAH and ESD showed more hypoxemia, but we did not find significant differences between OSAH patients with or without EDS.

Depressive symptoms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of depressive symptoms in Peruvian patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea (OSAH) and the association between the presence of depressive symptoms and OSAH severity. METHODS: Physical examination, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were applied, and a polysomnography test was performed. RESULTS: Data on 312 patients, 12 % females, 46.1 ± 11.7 years of age, were analyzed. BDI and ESS scores were 8.3 ± 5.7 and 9.8 ± 5.5, respectively. A total of 244 (78 %) patients had OSAH: 27 % of the cases were mild, 23 % were moderate, and 50 % were severe. Eighteen percent of the population had depression. A univariate analysis found a relationship between depressive symptoms and OSAH, as well as with some polysomnographic variables related to OSAH severity. The association between depression and OSAH was not significant in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between depressive symptoms and OSAH.

Importancia de los estudios simplificados para el cribado de trastornos respiratorios del sueño en mineros del Perú / Simplified studies value for screening sleep breathing disorders in Peruvian miners

El Síndrome Apneas Hipopneas del Sueño (SAHS) es factor de riesgo de accidentes durante la conducción. En este informe, presentamos dos series de casos de conductores (Grupo A de 39 y Grupo B de 14) que laboran en centros mineros de nuestra serranía. Todos fueron estudiados con polisomnografía convencional (PSG-C) a nivel del mar. Se estableció diagnóstico de SAHS en 17 (43%) y 1 (7%) del Grupo A y B respectivamente. La prevalencia de los trastornos respiratorios del sueño en esta población es desconocida. Considerando los altos costos de la PSG-C, es imperativo implementar el cribado de trastornos respiratorios del sueño con poligrafías respiratorias de monitoreo simplificado de bajo costo y aplicarlas en los recintos mineros.

The Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for driving accidents. In this report, we present two case-series of drivers (Group A of 39 and Group B of 14 drivers) who work in mining centers at highlands in Peru. Conventional polysommography (PSG-C) at sea level was performed. Diagnosis of OSA was found in 17 (43%) of Group A and 1 (7%) in Group B, respectively. The prevalence of sleep disorders in this population in unknown. Given the high cost of implementing PSG-C, it is therefore necessary to implement less expensive and simplified methods to screen for sleep disorders in mining settings.

Validation and modification of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in Peruvian population.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to develop a cross-cultural adaptation of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Peruvian population (ESS-VP) and to provide evidence of reliability and validity to this scale. We also modified the ESS-VP for non-driving Peruvian population (ESS-MPV). METHODS: Participants were Peruvians between 18 and 65 years. Five-phase design: Translation and retranslation of the original scale; comprehension evaluation (n = 60); reliability or test-retest (n = 75); internal consistency and construct validity (n = 219); and change of sensibility (n = 36). Just as in the ESS-PV, the same procedure was applied to ESS-MPV except the first phase. RESULTS: The ESS-PV and ESS-MPV had an adequate comprehension. They were reliable over time (test-retest), being better within a period of 2 weeks. They also had adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.790 and 0.789). Two factors were extracted in both scales, being only the first factor in which all items showed statistically significant loads. Both scales are sensitive to sleepiness change in patients with obstructive sleep apnea during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The ESS-VP and ESS-MPV, adapted to adult Peruvian population, are comparable to the original scale, reliable, valid, and change-sensitive. It is proposed that the ESS-MPV should be applied in Peruvian population who do not drive motorized vehicles.