Gastroesophageal reflux and sleep events in obstructive sleep apnea

Crosstalk between gastrointestinal tract disorders and obstructive sleep apnea

PURPOSE

Clinical studies suggested associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gastrointestinal tract disorders. This study aims to investigate the genetic causal relationship between OSA and gastrointestinal tract disorders, specifically gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

In this study, we employed two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the potential relationships between OSA and GERD, and between OSA and IBD. More specifically, the primary analysis utilized inverse variance weighting (IVW). Weighted median, MR Egger, and MR PRESSO were applied to complicate potential violations of MR assumptions. Also, sensitivity analysis was evaluated and similar analysis was performed again after outliers were removed. Additionally, multivariable MR (MVMR) was conducted for associated pairs to adjust for obesity.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted risk of GERD increased OSA risk by approximately 60% (ORIVW = 1.62, 95%CI = [1.43,1.84]) which was also stable by other complicated approaches, and even with BMI adjusted by MVMR (ORadjBMI[95%CI] = 1.26 [1.15,1.37]). Besides, OSA showed a mild causal effect on increased GERD risk after adjusting for obesity (ORadjBMI[95%CI] = 1.05 [1.02,1.08]). Additionally, OSA increased the risks for IBD (ORIVW[95%CI] = 1.36 [1.12,1.65]), including a higher risk of CD (ORIVW[95%CI] = 1.41 [1.08,1.83]), and a trend for increasing UC risk (ORIVW[95%CI] = 1.29 [0.99,1.67]).

CONCLUSION

GERD exerts a substantial causality on increasing the risk of OSA. Conversely, the potential for a causal relationship that OSA contributes to the development of GERD or IBD remains probable. These findings support the crosstalk between gastrointestinal tract disorders and OSA.

Association of self-reported and objective sleep disturbance with the spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is complex. We aimed to determine the association of self-reported and objective sleep parameters with diverse manifestations of the GERD spectrum.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited 561 individuals who underwent an electrocardiogram-based cardiopulmonary coupling for OSA screening during a health check-up. All participants received the Reflux Disease Questionnaire and an upper endoscopy to determine the presence of troublesome reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis (EE). Sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep dysfunction was defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score > 5. OSA was defined as a cardiopulmonary coupling-derived apnea-hypopnea index exceeding 15 events/h. Comparisons were made between participants on the GERD spectrum with respect to their various self-reported and objective sleep parameters.

RESULTS

Among the 277 patients with GERD (49.4%), 198 (35.3%) had EE. Patients with GERD had higher PSQI scores (6.99 ± 3.97 vs 6.07 ± 3.73, P = .005) and a higher prevalence of sleep dysfunction (60.6% vs 49.6%, P = .009). Patients with EE had a higher prevalence of OSA (42.9% vs 33.9%, P = .034). Along the GERD spectrum, symptomatic patients with EE had the highest PSQI scores and prevalence of sleep dysfunction (70.7%), while asymptomatic patients with EE had the highest prevalence of OSA (44%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a high prevalence of sleep dysfunction among individuals with GERD. Furthermore, patients on the GERD spectrum are prone to experiencing a range of self-reported and objective sleep disturbances.

CITATION

Hu K-Y, Tseng P-H, Hsu W-C, et al. Association of self-reported and objective sleep disturbance with the spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(6):911-920.

Chronic Cough and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Chronic cough, defined as a cough lasting more than 8 weeks, is a common medical condition occurring in 5% to 10% of the population. Its overlap with another highly prevalent disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is therefore not surprising. The relationship between chronic cough and OSA extends beyond this overlap with higher prevalence of OSA in patients with chronic cough than in the general population. The use of continuous positive airway pressure can result in improvement in chronic cough although further studies are needed to understand which patients will experience benefit in their cough from the treatment of comorbid OSA.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

We aim to conduct a systematic review and determine the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODS

Literature search for eligible studies was performed across major databases. The main endpoint was to assess the association between GERD and OSA. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine this strength of the association stratified by the diagnostic tools used for OSA (nocturnal polysomnogram or Berlin questionnaire) and GERD (validated reflux questionnaire or esophagogastroduodenoscopy). We also compared sleep efficiency, apnea hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale in OSA patients with or without GERD. Results were pooled together using Reviewer Manager 5.4.

RESULTS

Six studies involving 2950 patients with either GERD or OSA were included in the pooled analysis. Our findings suggest that there was a statistically significant unidirectional association between GERD and OSA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.53, P = 0.0001). Subgroup analyses redemonstrated an OSA-GERD association irrespective of the tools used for diagnosing either GERD or OSA (P = 0.24 and P = 0.82, respectively). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the same association after controlling for gender (OR = 1.63), BMI (OR = 1.81), smoking (OR = 1.45), and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.79). In patients with OSA, there were no statistically significant differences between patients with or without GERD in terms of apnea hypopnea index (P = 0.30), sleep efficiency (P = 0.67), oxygen desaturation index (P = 0.39), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

There exists an association between OSA and GERD that is independent of the modalities used for screening or diagnosing both disorders. However, the presence of GERD did not affect the severity of OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in adults: peri-operative considerations: A narrative review

: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common breathing disorder of sleep with a prevalence increasing in parallel with the worldwide rise in obesity. Alterations in sleep duration and architecture, hypersomnolence, abnormal gas exchange and also associated comorbidities may all feature in affected patients.The peri-operative period poses a special challenge for surgical patients with OSA who are often undiagnosed, and are at an increased risk for complications including pulmonary and cardiovascular, during that time. In order to ensure the best peri-operative management, anaesthetists caring for these patients should have a thorough understanding of the disorder, and be aware of the individual's peri-operative risk constellation, which depends on the severity and phenotype of OSA, the invasiveness of the surgical procedure, anaesthesia and also the requirement for postoperative opioids.The objective of this review is to educate clinicians in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of OSA in adults and also to highlight specific tasks in the preoperative assessment, namely to select a suitable intra-operative anaesthesia regimen, and manage the extent and duration of postoperative care to facilitate the best peri-operative outcome.

Associations between tooth wear and dental sleep disorders: A narrative overview

Objectives

Tooth wear is a common finding in adult patients with dental sleep disorders. The aim of this paper was to review the literature on the possible associations between tooth wear and the following dental sleep disorders: sleep‐related oro‐facial pain, oral moistening disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and sleep bruxism.

Methods

A PubMed search was performed on 1 June 2018 using MeSH terms in the following query: Tooth Wear AND (Facial Pain OR Temporomandibular Joint Disorders OR Xerostomia OR Sialorrhea OR Gastroesophageal Reflux OR Sleep Apnea Syndrome OR Sleep Bruxism).

Results

The query yielded 706 reports on tooth wear and the mentioned dental sleep disorders. Several associations between tooth wear and the dental sleep disorders were suggested in the literature. It could be concluded that: (a) tooth wear is associated with dental pain and/or hypersensitivity; (b) oral dryness is associated with tooth wear, oro‐facial pain and sleep bruxism; (c) GERD is associated with tooth wear, oro‐facial pain, oral dryness, OSAS and sleep bruxism; (d) OSAS is associated with oral dryness, GERD and sleep bruxism; and (e) sleep bruxism is associated with tooth wear.

Conclusions

Tooth wear is associated with the dental sleep disorders oro‐facial pain, oral dryness, GERD and sleep bruxism. The dental sleep disorders are interlinked with each other, which leads to indirect associations as well, and makes the consequences of each single condition difficult to disentangle. Knowledge of these associations is clinically relevant, but more research is needed to confirm their validity.

Association between respiratory events and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux events in patients with coexisting obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Literature has addressed the increased prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Significant improvement of GERD has been found after OSA treatment. However, precise mechanisms underlying this correlation remain unclear. We examined the association between nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and sleep events in patients with coexisting OSA and GERD.

METHODS

A case-crossover study among 12 patients with coexisting moderate-severe OSA and GERD was conducted. Participants underwent simultaneous polysomnography and esophageal impedance and pH monitoring. GER subtypes (ie, acid reflux, non-acid reflux) were defined as outcomes. Respective control time points were selected in all eligible control periods. Each sleep event was assessed individually. Estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Patients were determined as moderate to severe OSA (respiratory disturbance index of 42.66 [±22.09]). There were a total of 50 GER episodes, 22 acid reflux and 28 non-acid reflux. Arousals and awakenings were significantly associated with subsequent GER events. The OR for GER following an arousal was 2.31 (95% CI 1.39-3.68; p < 0.001) and following an awakening was 3.71 (95% CI 1.81-7.63; p < 0.001). GER events were significantly less likely to occur after other respiratory events (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.18-0.82]; p = 0.01). No sleep events followed GER events (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both awakening and arousal appear to precipitate any subtype of GER events in patients with coexisting GERD and moderate to severe OSA. However, GER events were significantly less likely to occur after other respiratory events and did not appear to cause sleep-related events.

[Gastro-esophageal reflux and chronic respiratory diseases]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) frequently occurs in association with chronic respiratory diseases although the casual link is not always clear. Several pathophysiological and experimental factors are considered to support a role for GERD in respiratory disease. Conversely, respiratory diseases and bronchodilator treatment can themselves exacerbate GERD. When cough or severe asthma is being investigated, GERD does not need to be systematically looked for and a therapeutic test with proton pump inhibitors is not always recommended. pH impedance monitoring is now the reference diagnostic tool to detect non acid reflux, a form of reflux for which proton pump inhibitor treatment is ineffective. Recent data have shown a potential role of GERD in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiolitis obliterans following lung transplantation, leading to discussions about the place of surgery in this context. However, studies using pH impedance monitoring are still needed to better understand and manage the association between GERD and chronic respiratory diseases.

Swallowing and pharyngo-esophageal manometry in obstructive sleep apnea

Introduction

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Endoscopic assessment of reflux esophagitis concurrent with hiatal hernia in male Japanese patients with obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVE

The pathogenetic relationship underlying the high prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains unclear. In addition, GERD has not been adequately assessed by endoscopy in patients with OSA. The purpose of this study was to use endoscopy to investigate potential interactions among reflux esophagitis, hiatal hernia (HH) and OSA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 243 consecutive male Japanese participants who underwent both overnight ambulatory polygraphic monitoring and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were retrospectively evaluated in a cross-sectional study. The prevalence and severity of HH and reflux esophagitis were assessed according to the Los Angeles classification and the Makuuchi classification, respectively. Associations among reflux esophagitis, HH and OSA were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

OSA was diagnosed in 98 individuals (40.3%). Endoscopy-confirmed esophagitis (p = 0.027) and HH (p < 0.001) were significantly more prevalent among patients with OSA. Multivariate regression model analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, visceral obesity represented by waist circumference, presence of OSA, concurrence of OSA and HH, smoking, and alcohol consumption yielded OSA as the only variable significantly associated with HH (odds ratio [OR], 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-4.99; p = 0.004), while concurrence of OSA and HH was related to reflux esophagitis (OR, 3.59; CI, 1.87-6.92; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

OSA was associated with HH and concurrent OSA and HH with reflux esophagitis in male Japanese patients with OSA. Our results support the hypothesis that complicating HH may link reflux esophagitis to OSA.