Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG). A Pilot Study

Abstract Background: Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea during postoperative period is not fully understood. This study aims to determine the impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) on postoperative complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods: A total of 128 consecutive patients undergoing CABG were evaluated prospectively. Patients were screened for OSA using the by Berlin questionnaire. Post-operative course of patients was followed including length of stay until discharge and 30 days thereafter to record any readmission during that period of time. Results: From the cohort evaluated, 81 patients (67%) were found to have OSA. Complication rate between OSA and non OSA group was not significantly different between OSA and non-OSA (6.9% vs. 5.9%, p=NS). Subset analysis for gender, race and age did not reveal any differences. Patients in the OSA group had higher percentage of acute respiratory failure/Re-intubation rate (7.5%) versus (0.8%) in non-OSA group but the difference was not statistically significant. Patient in OSA group spent more time in intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital but differences were not significant. Conclusion: The study is suggestive of high prevalence of OSA in patients undergoing CABG but no significant increase in postoperative complications in patients with OSA undergoing CABG is noted.

Self-Report Somatic Arousal Correlates with Sleep Complaints among Females with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study

 Study objectives: To investigate the relationship between somatic arousal and sleep complaints among females with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), we compared self-report and objective measures of somatic arousal between females with IBS and healthy females correlating the somatic arousal measures with self-report measures of sleepiness, fatigue and sleep quality.
Methods: Twelve females with IBS and 12 healthy females had measurement of oral temperature, heart rate and the difference in heart rate between periods of wakefulness and sleep during polysomnography (HR PSG w–s). Self-report somatic arousal was obtained using the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire anxious arousal subscale (MASQaas). Sleepiness, fatigue and sleep quality were assessed with the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), fatigue severity scale (FSS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively.
Results: The MASQaas score distinguished females with IBS from controls and for all participants, correlated significantly with the ESS, FSS and PSQI. Among objective measures, only the HR PSG w-s separated significantly between groups and none of the objective measures correlated with self-report sleepiness, fatigue or sleep quality. For all participants, the MASQaas score correlated significantly with the HR PSG w-s.
Conclusions: Our findings provide preliminary support for quantifying somatic arousal by self-report and for somatic arousal being associated with poor sleep quality among females with IBS.

Adolescent Sleep: Review of Characteristics, Consequences, and Intervention

Inadequate sleep is a pervasive problem among adolescents. This paper reviews the characteristics of adolescent sleep patterns, the negative consequences of poor sleep, and the interventions that target disrupted sleep among adolescents. Review of the literature suggests that systematic assessment and implementation of outpatient and school-based interventions are infrequent for this population, and in general provide mixed findings with regard to improvement of overall sleep quality. Existing barriers for implementation of intervention are discussed, and suggestions for improving interventions via inclusion of motivational interviewing techniques, skills building, and “hands-on” approaches through group activities are provided.

Togetherness of REM Behavior Disorder and Fahr Disease: A Case Report

REM Behavior Disorder (RBD) is seen in elderly population mostly. Its prevalence is unknown but the disease was reported in 0.38% of overall population and in 0.50% of elderly population. One third of newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients, 47% of overall Parkinson’s patients and 90% of multiple system atrophy patients diagnosed as RBD. RBD is a chronic, progressive sleep disorder and its frequency or severity changes over time. Fahr disease (FD) most common clinical signs are Parkinsonism, dystonia, tremor, chore, ataxia, dementia and affective disorders. Etiopathogenesis of RBD and FD are still unknown. Our patient presented with FD with the calcification in basal ganglions before Parkinson’s disease manifested. We aimed to underline the importance of FD in the differential diagnosis of RBD and RBD must be considered and kept in mind during the clinical course of FD.