Snoring and the severity of coronary artery disease in men

Expiratory Snoring Predicts Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients with Sleep-disordered Breathing

RATIONALE

Sleep-disordered breathing and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are two common conditions that may present concomitantly. The effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the polysomnographic manifestation of sleep-disordered breathing have not been studied.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that the presence of airflow obstruction could be predicted by the presence of expiratory upper airway narrowing during sleep in patients with sleep-disordered breathing.

METHODS

Ninety-three patients with sleep-disordered breathing (19 men; age, 51.6 yr; body mass index, 40.1 kg/m(2); apnea-hypopnea index, 37.4 events/h) were observed. Every patient had an in-lab polysomnography study and complete pulmonary function tests. Sleep and respiratory events were scored using American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended scoring criteria. Expiratory snoring events were identified on polysomnography using microphone sensor and/or pressure flow sensor in each patient. The FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70 was used to define the presence of airflow obstruction.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The proportion analysis demonstrated that patients with expiratory snoring have 11 times higher odds of having evidence of lower airway obstruction, defined as FEV1/FVC less than 70 (odds ratio [OR], 11.03; P < 0.001), whereas smokers have increased odds by 13 times (OR, 13.18; P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that FEV1 was positively related to mean SaO2 (P < 0.05) and negatively related to expiratory snoring, smoking, 3% oxygen desaturation index, 2% oxygen desaturation index, and age (P < 0.05). Epworth sleepiness scale, sex, and body mass index did not have any association with FEV1. The multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (FEV1/FVC < 70) correlated significantly with expiratory snoring and smoking (OR, 11.76; confidence interval, 3.23-42.83; and OR, 9.95; confidence interval, 2.67-37.09), respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the linear combination of mean SaO2 and expiratory snoring (P < 0.05) predicted FEV1. However, age and 2% oxygen desaturation index did not predict FEV1.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of expiratory snoring predicts obstructive airway disorders. Patients with expiratory snoring and low mean oxygen saturation during sleep should be carefully assessed for pulmonary disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Prospective study of restless legs syndrome and risk of erectile dysfunction

In our previous cross-sectional study, we found that restless legs syndrome (RLS) was associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Thus, we conducted a prospective study to examine whether RLS was associated with a higher risk of developing ED based on 6 years of follow-up among 10,394 men (mean age = 63.4 years) in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. RLS was assessed in 2002 using a set of standardized questions recommended by the International RLS Study Group. Erectile function was assessed by means of questionnaires in 2000, 2004, and 2008. We identified 1,633 incident ED cases. Men with RLS were more likely to develop ED (relative risk = 1.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.14, 1.68; P = 0.001) than were those without the syndrome, after adjustment for potential confounders, such as age, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, other sleep disorders, and snoring status. A higher frequency of RLS symptoms was also associated with an increased risk of ED (P(trend) = 0.001). In conclusion, men with RLS had a higher risk of ED, and the magnitude of the risk increased with a higher frequency of RLS symptoms. Combinations of other sleep disorders with RLS further increased the risk of ED.

Screening, diagnosis & monitoring of depression/distress in CHF patients

Objective and validated measures of depression/distress (anxiety and anger) are available and readily usable at the bedside or in clinic. Foremost among these is the Patient's Health Questionnaire--an adaptation of DSM IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder that permits administration and scoring by nursing or physician personnel, and quantification of the intensity of depression. A score of 10 or greater indicates a need for evaluation/treatment. Because of patient denial/minimization/alexithymia, PHQ negatives should undergo further screening by having a spouse or friend complete a depression/distress rating scale. The only standardized, normed, and validated spouse/friend scale presently available is the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist, which is available by internet.

Overtime work, insufficient sleep, and risk of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction in Japanese men

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relation between working hours and hours of sleep and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with special reference to the joint effect of these two factors.

METHOD

Case-control study in Japan. Cases were 260 men aged 40-79 admitted to hospitals with AMI during 1996-8. Controls were 445 men free from AMI matched for age and residence who were recruited from the resident registers. Odds ratios of AMI relative to mean weekly working hours and daily hours of sleep in the past year or in the recent past were calculated.

RESULTS

Weekly working hours were related to progressively increased odds ratios of AMI in the past year as well as in the past month, with a twofold increased risk for overtime work (weekly working hours >or=61) compared with working hours <or=40. Short time sleep (daily hours of sleep <or=5) and frequent lack of sleep (2 or more days/week with <5 hours of sleep) were also associated with a two to threefold increased risk. Frequent lack of sleep and few days off in the recent past showed greater odds ratios than those in the past year.

CONCLUSIONS

Overtime work and insufficient sleep may be related to increased risk of AMI.

The snoring spectrum: acoustic assessment of snoring sound intensity in 1,139 individuals undergoing polysomnography

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To quantify the snoring sound intensity levels generated by individuals during polysomnographic testing and to examine the relationships between acoustic, polysomnographic, and clinical variables.

DESIGN

The prospective acquisition of acoustic and polysomnographic data with a retrospective medical chart review.

SETTING

A sleep laboratory at a primary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

All 1,139 of the patients referred to the sleep laboratory for polysomnographic testing from 1980 to 1994.

INTERVENTIONS

The acoustic measurement of snoring sound intensity during sleep concurrent with polysomnographic testing.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Four decibel levels were derived from snoring sound intensity recordings. L1, L5, and L10 are measures of the sound pressure measurement in decibels employing the A-weighting network that yields the response of the human ear exceeded, respectively, for 1, 5, and 10% of the test period. The Leq is a measure of the A-weighted average intensity of a fluctuating acoustic signal over the total test period. L10 levels above 55 dBA were exceeded by 12.3% of the patients. The average levels of snoring sound intensity were significantly higher for men than for women. The levels of snoring sound intensity were associated significantly with the following: polysomnographic testing results, including the respiratory disturbance index (RDI), sleep latency, and the percentage of slow-wave sleep; demographic factors, including gender and body mass; and clinical factors, including snoring history, hypersomnolence, and breathing stoppage. Men with a body mass index of > 30 and an average snoring sound intensity of > 38 dBA were 4.1 times more likely to have an RDI of > 10.

CONCLUSIONS

Snoring sound intensity levels are related to a number of demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic test results. Snoring sound intensity is closely related to apnea/hypopnea during sleep. The noise generated by snoring can disturb or disrupt a snorer's sleep, as well as the sleep of a bed partner.

Snoring and myocardial infarction: a 4-year follow-up study

The association between snoring and myocardial infarction was studied in 1453 people of both sexes aged 20-70 years. The study was carried out in a population of 92,364 residents and the subjects were recruited using the Electoral Census. A questionnaire was sent to all participants, asking about snoring and cardiovascular risk factors. Hospital records were checked for the next 4 years to establish how many of them developed myocardial infarction. At the beginning of the follow-up study 39 patients were diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease. Of the other 1414 participants, 571 (40.4%) were snorers and 843 (59.6%) non-snorers. Twenty-one developed myocardial infarction in the snorer group and four in the non-snorer group. The snorer group presents an adjusted relative risk of myocardial infarction of 3.08 (95% CI 1.01-9.46) with respect to non-snorers. We conclude that snoring seems to be a potential risk factor for myocardial infarction.

Five-year follow-up for adverse outcomes in males with at least minimally positive angiograms: importance of "denial" in assessing psychosocial risk factors

The purpose of this study was to test the role of "denial" (spouse/friend minus self-ratings on parallel versions of the same questionnaire) in diluting the predictive value of emotional distress for cardiac events (deaths, new MIs, and/or revascularizations). One hundred forty-four men with no history of prior revascularization who had at least minimally positive diagnostic coronary angiograms, and someone they selected as "someone who knows you well," completed parallel versions of the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist (KSSFC). They were followed up by phone an average of 59.7 months after recruitment. Length of follow-up, baseline cardiac risk factors, and a number of baseline-obtained psychosocial risk factors were tested as prospective predictors of combined events (death by any cause, new MIs, and/or revascularizations) and current anginal frequency. Only spouse/friend observed anxiety on the KSSFC predicted current anginal frequency (p = 0.001). On the self-report version of the KSSFC, patients with one or more events reported less anger (p = 0.031), depression (p = 0.008), and anxiety (p = 0.003). These results may be attributable to "denial" because there were no differences in spouse/friend ratings, and difference scores (spouse/friend minus patient) on the KSSFC scales, particularly anger, were also related to events: AIAI (p = 0.002); depression (p = 0.063); and anxiety (p = 0.010). Denial may be a major limiting factor in accurately assessing emotional distress in cardiac populations, and may help account for a number of the previous findings.

Emotional distress among males with "syndrome X"

The present study examined traditional risk factors and various indices of emotional distress in males with positive angiograms (N = 122), "syndrome X" males with negative or nominal results on angiogram (N = 53), and age- and socioeconomic status-matched males with no manifest history of otherosclerotic disease (N = 56). Syndrome X patients reported more depression on the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist (KSSFC) than positive angiographic patients. And compared with healthy controls, they were more likely to be perceived by a spouse/friend as depressed and anxious on the KSSFC, scored higher on the Framingham Type A Scale, and reported more unprovoked nocturnal awakening. Syndrome X patients generally appear to be similar to patients with positive angiograms with regard to traditional risk factor history but are more distressed than healthy controls. This becomes most evident when denial is circumvented by discussion with significant others or inquiries are "framed" appropriately.