Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

What is the role of asthma in obstructive sleep apnea? A narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are two of the most prevalent respiratory diseases in the world. Their high prevalence increases the probability of the two diseases coexisting by chance in a single individual, but in recent years, various studies have also shown a real one-to-one association between them.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed. Keywords: asthma (title) and OSA (title) and apnea (title) and positive airway pressure and CPAP (title).

STUDIES SELECTION

All manuscript related to the relationship between asthma an OSA as well as its treatments in terms of pathophysiological, diagnostic, etiological, epidemiological and treatment points.

RESULTS

50% of asthmatic patients suffer from OSA and the adjusted risk of developing OSA in asthmatics is 2.5 times higher than in non-asthmatic individuals, especially in poorly controlled, more severe or longer-standing asthmatics. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain this increase in OSA in asthmatics: obesity, gastro-esophageal reflux, rhinitis, nasal polyps, increased pharyngeal collapsibility due to mechanical, inflammatory or dynamic causes and, finally, the upper airway deposition of inhaled corticosteroids (IC) generating myopathy in the pharyngeal muscles (as occurs in the vocal cord muscles, resulting in dysphonia).

CONCLUSIONS

Although both asthma and OSA are common diseases that can coexist in the same individual, a one-to-one association between the two diseases has been observed. The presence of asthma could generate or exacerbate a preexisting OSA. Caution is recommended in IC inhalation techniques in patients with OSA. The use of ultrafine particles with less pharyngeal deposition is recommended.

Sleep Deficiency, Sleep Apnea, and Chronic Lung Disease

With sleep occupying up to one-third of every adult's life, addressing sleep is essential to overall health. Sleep disturbance and deficiency are common in patients with chronic lung diseases and associated with worse clinical outcomes and poor quality of life. A detailed history incorporating nocturnal respiratory symptoms, symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and medications is the first step in identifying and addressing the multiple factors often contributing to sleep deficiency in chronic lung disease. Additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between sleep deficiency and the spectrum of chronic lung diseases.

State of the art: Alternative overlap syndrome-asthma and obstructive sleep apnea

In the general population, Bronchial Asthma (BA) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are among the most prevalent chronic respiratory disorders. Significant epidemiologic connections and complex pathogenetic pathways link these disorders via complex interactions at genetic, epigenetic, and environmental levels. The coexistence of BA and OSA in an individual likely represents a distinct syndrome, that is, a collection of clinical manifestations attributable to several mechanisms and pathobiological signatures. To avoid terminological confusion, this association has been named alternative overlap syndrome (vs overlap syndrome represented by the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-OSA association). This comprehensive review summarizes the complex, often bidirectional links between the constituents of the alternative overlap syndrome. Cross-sectional, population, or clinic-based studies are unlikely to elucidate causality or directionality in these relationships. Even longitudinal epidemiological evaluations in BA cohorts developing over time OSA, or OSA cohorts developing BA during follow-up cannot exclude time factors or causal influence of other known or unknown mediators. As such, a lot of pathophysiological interactions described here have suggestive evidence, biological plausibility, potential or actual directionality. By showcasing existing evidence and current knowledge gaps, the hope is that deliberate, focused, and collaborative efforts in the near-future will be geared toward opportunities to shine light on the unknowns and accelerate discovery in this field of health, clinical care, education, research, and scholarly endeavors.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated with Worsened Hospital Outcomes in Children Hospitalized with Asthma

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown a bidirectional relationship between asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, there is a paucity of national-level data evaluating the impact of OSA on hospital outcomes in pediatric hospitalizations for asthma.

METHODS

We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample and Kids Inpatient Database to include all pediatric hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of asthma between 2003-2016. Using ICD codes, the pediatric asthma cohort was divided into two groups: those with and those without a concomitant diagnosis of OSA. The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation. The secondary outcomes were the lengths of each hospital stay and total hospitalization charges.

RESULTS

We analyzed 1,606,248 hospitalizations during the 14-year study period. The overall prevalence rate of OSA was 0.7%. Patients with asthma and OSA were significantly older (8.2 versus 5.9 years) and were more often male, p < 0.001. The OSA group had several increased comorbidities. The overall mortality rate was 0.03%, and multivariate regression analysis showed that OSA was associated with 4.3 times higher odds of in-hospital mortality (95% CI: 2.4 to 7.6, p < 0.001). Furthermore, OSA was associated with a 5.2 times greater need for mechanical ventilation (95% CI: 4.8 to 5.5, p < 0.001). Linear regression analyses demonstrated that OSA independently contributed an additional 0.82 days to the hospital stay length (95% CI: 0.79 to 0.86, p < 0.001) and an extra 10,479 USD (95% CI: 10,110 to 10,848, p < 0.001) in hospitalization charges.

CONCLUSION

OSA in children admitted with asthma is associated with poor hospital outcomes such as increased mortality risk, the need for mechanical ventilation, and increased healthcare utilization.

Exploring the Relationship between Inhaled Corticosteroid Usage, Asthma Severity, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A Systematic Literature Review

(1) Background: Sleep-disordered breathing and asthma are often interrelated. Children and adults with asthma are more susceptible to sleep apnea. Inhaled corticosteroids effectively reduce inflammation and prevent structural changes in the airways. Objective: to explore the existing literature to determine whether inhaled corticosteroids play a role in sleep-disordered breathing in patients with asthma. (2) Methods: We conducted a thorough search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for English-language articles published up to 12 May 2024. We utilized the ROBINS-E tool to assess the risk of bias. (4) Conclusions: 136 articles were discerned upon conducting the literature search. A total of 13 articles underwent exhaustive full-text scrutiny, resulting in 6 being considered non-relevant. The remaining seven articles, assessed for eligibility, were incorporated into the final analysis. Five studies were identified in adults and two in children. In adult patients, inhaled corticosteroids, especially at high doses, appear to increase the risk of sleep apnea in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the properties of inhaled corticosteroids, such as particle size, may impact the risk of developing sleep apnea. In children, the severity of asthma is a key factor affecting the prevalence of sleep apnea, whereas inhaled corticosteroids appear to be a less significant risk factor compared to adults. All of the studies reviewed were classified as having a high risk of bias or some concerns regarding bias. Each study revealed at least one type of bias that raised notable concerns. This research highlights a complex interaction between the use of inhaled corticosteroids, the severity of asthma, and the onset of sleep apnea. Additional research is necessary to investigate these relationships further.

Co-existence of OSA and respiratory diseases and the influence of gender

INTRODUCTION

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is commonly associated with respiratory diseases, such as COPD, asthma and interstitial lung disease.

AREAS COVERED

This narrative review aims to comprehensively synthesize the existing information on SDB in respiratory diseases, investigate the role of gender in this association, and highlight the importance of OSA management in improving sleep, quality of life, and disease prognosis in these specific patient populations.

EXPERT OPINION

Research indicates a synergistic link between OSA and chronic respiratory diseases, which leads to greater morbidity and mortality compared to each disorder alone. Given the lack of an optimal OSA screening tool for these patients, a comprehensive patient approach and overnight diagnostic sleep study are imperative. Despite the limited evidence available, it seems that gender has an impact on the prevalence, severity, and susceptibility of this coexistence. Recognizing the role of gender in the coexistence of OSA and other respiratory diseases can enhance everyday medical practice and enable clinicians to adopt a more personalized approach toward optimal screening and diagnosis of these patients.

Revisiting Asthma Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overlap: Current Knowledge and Future Needs

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea are highly prevalent conditions with a high cost burden. In addition to shared risk factors, existing data suggest a bidirectional relationship between asthma and OSA, where each condition can impact the other. Patients with asthma often complain of sleep fragmentation, nocturnal asthma symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and snoring. The prevalence of OSA increases with asthma severity, as evidenced by multiple large studies. Asthma may lower the threshold for arousal in OSA, resulting in the hypopnea with arousal phenotype. Epidemiologic studies in adults have shown that OSA is associated with worse asthma severity, increased frequency of exacerbation, and poor quality of life. The current literature assessing the relationship among OSA, asthma, and CPAP therapy is heavily dependent on observational studies. There is a need for randomized controlled trials to minimize the interference of confounding shared risk factors.

Longitudinal risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review

Despite substantial disease burden, existing evidence on the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been derived primarily from cross-sectional studies without determining temporality. Therefore, we aimed to systematically synthesize the literature on longitudinal risk factors for sleep study-assessed OSA and questionnaire-assessed probable OSA from cohort studies in the general adult population settings. We systematically searched Embase and Medline (on OVID) databases. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were not conducted due to methodological heterogeneity of exposure and outcome measurements. There was consistent evidence that weight gain was associated with incident (n = 2) and greater severity (n = 2) of OSA. One study each observed an association of higher baseline body-mass index, male sex, asthma, a specific genetic polymorphism in rs12415421, and insulin resistance/hyperglycemia, with incident OSA. Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution (NO2, n = 1) was associated with OSA, and menopausal transitions (n = 1) with higher apnea-hypopnea index. There were no eligible studies on long-term smoking or alcohol use. In conclusion, approximately 10% increase in weight, especially in males, might alert clinicians to consider potential or worsening OSA. Large, well-designed longitudinal studies are needed to consolidate knowledge on other associations with OSA development, especially on potentially modifiable risk factors.

Association of rest-activity circadian rhythm with chronic respiratory diseases, a cross-section survey from NHANES 2011-2014

OBJECTIVE

A growing number of studies have examined the 24-h rest-activity characteristics in relation to health outcomes. Up to now, few studies have paid attention to the role of rest-activity circadian rhythm in chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs); therefore, to fill this gap, our study innovatively explored the association of rest-activity circadian rhythm indices with CRDs.

METHODS

A total of 7412 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 were included in this study. The rest-activity circadian rhythm indices were calculated using accelerometer data and were divided into quartiles to perform logistic regression.

RESULTS

Participants in the highest quartile of Relative amplitude (RA) had a lower prevalence of emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma, compared to those in the lowest quartile. Participants in the highest quartile of Intradaily variability (IV) was associated with a higher prevalence of emphysema relative to those in the lowest quartile. Compared to those in the lowest quartile, participants in the highest quartile of the average activity of the most active continuous 10-h period (M10) had a lower prevalence of emphysema. Additionally, compared to those in the lowest quartile of the average activity of the least active continuous 5-h period (L5) and L5 start time, participants in the highest quartile had a higher prevalence of asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that in general US adult population, disrupted rest-activity circadian rhythm was associated with a higher prevalence of CRDs.

Differences in L-arginine metabolism and asthma morbidity among asthma patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND

Imbalance in L-arginine and nitric oxide (NO) metabolism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and both diseases impact the other's morbidity. We sought to determine whether L-arginine/NO metabolism differs between adults with asthma with or without comorbid OSA, and its association with asthma morbidity.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of 322 adults with asthma recruited in Denver, CO and New York City, NY. Data were collected on OSA status, spirometry, and metrics of asthma control and morbidity. L-Arginine metabolites were quantified in patient serum. Bivariate analyses and multiple regression were performed to determine differences between L-arginine metabolism, OSA and association with asthma morbidity.

RESULTS

Among the 322 participants, 92 (28.5%) had OSA. The cohort was 81.6% female, 23.4% identified as Black and 30.6% as Latino. Patients with asthma and OSA had significantly higher serum concentrations of NO synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) (p-value = 0.019), lower L-arginine to ornithine ratios (p-value = 0.003), and increased ornithine (p-value = 0.001) and proline levels (p-value < 0.001) compared to those without OSA. In adjusted models, OSA was associated with worse asthma control, adjusted mean difference in asthma control questionnaire of 0.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06 to 0.65), and asthma quality of life questionnaire, adjusted mean difference: - 0.53 (95% CI: - 0.85 to - 0.21), after adjusting for relevant covariates including body mass index and L-arginine metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

Adults with asthma and OSA had increased ADMA, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and greater metabolism of L-arginine via the arginase pathway compared to those with asthma alone, indicating a possible shared pathophysiological mechanism of these diseases.

Overlaps between obstructive sleep apnoea and other respiratory diseases, including COPD, asthma and interstitial lung disease

In the past, there was limited research relating to the role of sleep in respiratory diseases. Physicians treating these patients tended to focus mainly on the daily disabling symptoms, overlooking the possible significant role of coexisting sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Nowadays, OSA has been recognised as an important, highly prevalent comorbidity for respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Overlap syndrome refers to the coexistence of chronic respiratory disease and OSA in the same patient. Although, in the past, overlap syndromes have been poorly studied, recent data underline that they result in increased morbidity and mortality compared with either underlying disorder alone. OSA and respiratory disease may be of different severity, and this, along with the existence of various clinical phenotypes, points to the necessity of an individualised therapeutic plan. Early recognition and OSA management could offer key benefits, such as improved sleep, quality of life and disease outcomes.

Educational aims

Describe pathophysiological aspects of OSA in chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma and ILDs.Understand the bidirectional clinical importance when OSA coexists in chronic respiratory diseases.Review current knowledge of treatment strategies towards an individualised therapeutic plan resulting in patient-centric outcomes.

Sleep Deficiency, Sleep Apnea, and Chronic Lung Disease

With sleep occupying up to one-third of every adult's life, addressing sleep is essential to overall health. Sleep disturbance and deficiency are common in patients with chronic lung diseases and associated with worse clinical outcomes and poor quality of life. A detailed history incorporating nocturnal respiratory symptoms, symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and medications is the first step in identifying and addressing the multiple factors often contributing to sleep deficiency in chronic lung disease. Additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between sleep deficiency and the spectrum of chronic lung diseases.

The Role of Comorbidities in Difficult-to-Control Asthma in Adults and Children

Assessment of asthma comorbidities, conditions that adversely affect the pathobiology of asthma or impair its response to therapies, is a fundamental step in the evaluation and management of patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. Identifying and effectively treating asthma comorbidities, such as obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, may improve asthma control and reduce exacerbations. In addition, identifying comorbid T2 inflammatory conditions may help guide optimal selection of biologic therapies. Here, we describe common comorbid conditions found in adult and pediatric difficult-to-control asthma, discuss evidence for the association with asthma morbidity and treatment benefit, and provide information on how and when to assess comorbidities.

Asthma and Three Colinear Comorbidities: Obesity, OSA, and GERD

Asthma is a complex disease with heterogeneous phenotypes and endotypes that are incompletely understood. Obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease co-occur in patients with asthma at higher rates than in those without asthma. Although these diseases share risk factors, there are some data suggesting that these comorbidities have shared inflammatory pathways, drive the development of asthma, or worsen asthma control. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management recommendations, and key knowledge gaps of these common comorbidities.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Asthma: More Than Chance?

Purpose of Review

To discuss the current evidence regarding the association and mechanistic interaction between asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Recent Findings

The co-existence of OSA is highly prevalent in asthmatics and significantly associated with increased severity, decreased control, more frequent exacerbations, and hospitalizations despite medical management. Pre-existing asthma may also be a risk factor for new onset OSA. Rhinitis, obesity, and gastro-esophageal reflux are risk factors in both conditions. The obese asthmatic with OSA may present a unique phenotype. Positive airway pressure in severe asthma improves outcomes.

Summary

Pathophysiologic mechanisms and co-morbidities overlap between OSA and asthma, but the exact link has yet to be confirmed. Screening for OSA is recommended in those with severe asthma. Further investigations are needed to delineate the cellular processes with therapeutic targets. Similarly, prospective investigations are needed to evaluate the longitudinal relationship in pre-existing asthma and the development of OSA.

Asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overlap: What Has the Evidence Taught Us?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma are highly prevalent chronic respiratory disorders. Beyond their frequent coexistence arising from their high prevalence and shared risk factors, these disorders feature a reciprocal interaction whereby each disease impacts the severity of the other. Emerging evidence implicates airway and systemic inflammation, neuroimmune interactions, and effects of asthma-controlling medications (corticosteroids) as factors that predispose patients with asthma to OSA. Conversely, undiagnosed or inadequately treated OSA adversely affects asthma control, partly via effects of intermittent hypoxia on airway inflammation and tissue remodeling. In this article, we review multiple lines of recently published evidence supporting this interaction. We provide a set of recommendations for clinicians involved in the care of adults with asthma, and identify critical gaps in our knowledge about this overlap.

Sleep apnea and risk of traumatic brain injury and associated mortality and healthcare costs: a population-based cohort study

Background

The objective of this study was aimed to investigate whether sleep apnea patients had a higher risk of traumatic brain injury.

Methods

Data were collected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database during the period of 2000-2012. The study cohort comprised 6,456 patients aged ≥20 years with a first diagnosis of sleep apnea. The primary outcome was the incidence of traumatic brain injury. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional-hazards modeling were used.

Results

After adjustments for associated comorbidities and hypnotic medications, sleep apnea patients were associated with a 1.19-fold higher risk of traumatic brain injury (95% CI, 1.07-1.33) compared with patients without sleep apnea. Sleep apnea patients who took benzodiazepine (BZD) had a 1.30-fold increased risk of traumatic brain injury compared with patients without sleep apnea (95% CI, 1.14-1.49). However, this risk was not statistically significant, with a 1.03-fold risk of traumatic brain injury in sleep apnea patients without BZD use (95% CI, 0.84-1.25) compared with patients without sleep apnea. Compared with patients without sleep apnea, the risk of traumatic brain injury in sleep apnea patients aged 65-79 years old was higher (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.06-1.74).

Conclusions

Sleep apnea patients, regardless of hypnotic use, had a higher risk of traumatic brain injury compared with patients without sleep apnea.

Τhe Co-Existence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Bronchial Asthma: Revelation of a New Asthma Phenotype?

Bronchial asthma (BA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common respiratory obstructive diseases that may coexist. It would be interesting to study the possible influence of that coexistence on both diseases. Until now, reviews focused mainly on epidemiology. The aim of this study was to review the literature in relation to epidemiology, pathophysiology, consequences, screening of patients, and treatment of the coexistence of OSA and BA. We pooled studies from the PubMed database from 1986 to 2019. OSA prevalence in asthmatics was found to be high, ranging from19% to 60% in non-severe BA, reaching up to 95% in severe asthma. Prevalence was correlated with the duration and severity of BA, and increased dosage of steroids taken orally or by inhalation. This high prevalence of the coexistence of OSA and BA diseases could not be a result of just chance. It seems that this coexistence is based on the pathophysiology of the diseases. In most studies, OSA seems to deteriorate asthma outcomes, and mainly exacerbates them. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment is likely to improve symptoms, the control of the disease, and the quality of life in asthmatics with OSA. However, almost all studies are observational, involving a small number of patients with a short period of follow up. Although treatment guidelines cannot be released, we could recommend periodic screening of asthmatics for OSA for the optimal treatment of both the diseases.

The Impact of Antidepressants on the Risk of Developing Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported inconsistently, and the association between antidepressant use and the risk of developing OSA in patients with PTSD has not been previously studied. Therefore, we used the Longitudinal National Health Insurance Database (LHID) to investigate the impact of PTSD and antidepressant use on the risk of OSA development.

METHODS

Identified from the LHID, 2,316 individuals aged ≥ 18 years with PTSD, but with no history of OSA, and 23,160 control individuals matched for age, sex, obesity and index date were enrolled between 2000 and 2015 and followed up until the end of 2015 to identify the development of OSA. A two-tailed Bonferroni-corrected P < .00038 (.05/13) was considered statistically significant as we examined 13 antidepressants.

RESULTS

Individuals with PTSD had increased risk of developing OSA (adjusted hazard ratio 4.672, 95% confidence interval 2.246-9.787, P < .001) after adjusting for demographic data, medical comorbidities, and medication. Treatment with antidepressants was not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing OSA compared to no antidepressant treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Asian patients with PTSD had increased risk of developing OSA, and treatment with antidepressants did not play a key role in increasing the risk of OSA development. Further studies are required to investigate the underlying mechanisms of PTSD and the roles of antidepressants on the risk of developing OSA.

CITATION

Lin C-E, Chung C-H, Chen L-F, Chien W-C, Chou P-H. The impact of antidepressants on the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea in posttraumatic stress disorder: a nationwide cohort study in taiwan. J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(9):1233-1241.

Obstructive sleep apnea and comorbidities: a dangerous liaison

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disease, and is traditionally associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The role of comorbidities in OSA patients has emerged recently, and new conditions significantly associated with OSA are increasingly reported. A high comorbidity burden worsens prognosis, but some data suggest that CPAP might be protective especially in patients with comorbidities. Aim of this narrative review is to provide an update on recent studies, with special attention to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular comorbidities, the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, asthma, COPD and cancer. Better phenotypic characterization of OSA patients, including comorbidities, will help to provide better individualized care. The unsatisfactory adherence to CPAP in patients without daytime sleepiness should prompt clinicians to examine the overall risk profile of each patient in order to identify subjects at high risk for worse prognosis and provide the optimal treatment not only for OSA, but also for comorbidities.

Clinical presentation of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea and self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma in the ESADA cohort

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma are often associated and several studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between asthma and OSA. This study analyzed the characteristics of patients with suspected OSA from the European Sleep Apnea Database according to presence/absence of physician-diagnosed asthma. Cross-sectional data in 16,236 patients (29.1% female) referred for suspected OSA were analyzed according to occurrence of physician-diagnosed asthma for anthropometrics, OSA severity and sleepiness. Sleep structure was assessed in patients studied by polysomnography (i.e. 48% of the sample). The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma in the entire cohort was 4.8% (7.9% in women, 3.7% in men, p < 0.0001), and decreased from subjects without OSA to patients with mild-moderate and severe OSA (p = 0.02). Obesity was highly prevalent in asthmatic women, whereas BMI distribution was similar in men with and without physician-diagnosed asthma. Distribution of OSA severity was similar in patients with and without physician-diagnosed asthma, and unaffected by treatment for asthma or gastroesophageal reflux. Asthma was associated with poor sleep quality and sleepiness. Physician-diagnosed asthma was less common in a sleep clinic population than expected from the results of studies in the general population. Obesity appears as the major factor raising suspicion of OSA in asthmatic women, whereas complaints of poor sleep quality were the likely reason for referral in asthmatic men.

Role of Sleep Apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Severe Asthma

Gastroesophageal reflux and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are conditions that practitioners have been encouraged to evaluate and treat as part of a comprehensive approach to achieving asthma control. In this review, the author looks at the evidence linking these two conditions as factors that may impact difficult-to-control asthma and looks critically at the evidence suggesting that evaluation and treatment of these conditions when present impacts asthma control.

Major depressive disorder is associated with subsequent adult-onset asthma: a population-based cohort study

AIM

To examine the incidence of asthma in adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

From the National Health Insurance database of Taiwan, we identified 30 169 adult patients who were newly diagnosed with MDD between 2000 and 2010. Individuals without depression were randomly selected four times and frequency matched for sex, age and year of diagnosis. Both cohorts were followed-up for the occurrence of asthma up to the end of 2011. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of asthma were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards method.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of asthma was 1.91-fold higher in the MDD cohort than in the non-depression cohort (7.55 v. 3.96 per 1000 person-years), with an aHR of 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55-1.78). In both cohorts, the incidence of asthma was higher in patients and controls who were female, aged, with comorbidities and users of aspirin or beta-adrenergic receptor blockers. No significant difference was observed in the occurrence of asthma between patients with MDD treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and those treated with non-SSRIs (SSRIs to non-SSRIs aHR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.91-1.17).

CONCLUSION

Adult patients with MDD are at a higher risk of asthma than those without depression are.

Evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: A cross-sectional study

The relationship between sleep disorders and bronchiectasis has not been well described. We hypothesize that, due to the irreversible dilatation of the bronchi, the presence of secretions, and airflow obstruction, patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis may be predisposed to hypoxemia during sleep, or to symptoms that may lead to arousal. A cross-sectional observational study was performed involving 49 patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). All patients underwent clinical evaluation, spirometry, and polysomnography, and were evaluated for the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The mean age of the participants was 50.3 ± 13.6 years; 51.1% of patients were male and had a mean body mass index of 23.8 ± 3.4 kg/m². The mean total sleep time (TST) was 325.15 ± 64.22 min with a slight reduction in sleep efficiency (84.01 ± 29.2%). Regarding sleep stages, stage 1 sleep and REM sleep were abnormal. OSA was present in 40.82% of the patients. The mean arousal index was 5.6 ± 2.9/h and snoring was observed in 71.43% of the patients. The oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was 14.35 ± 15.36/h, mean minimum oxygen saturation (SpO₂ nadir) was 83.29 ± 7.99%, and mean TST with an SpO₂ less than 90% was 30.21 ± 60.48 min. EDS was exhibited by 53.06% of the patients and 55.1% were at high risk of developing OSA. The patients infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa had higher apnea-hypopnea indices, ODI, and TST with SpO₂ < 90%, and lower values of SpO₂ nadir. Adult patients with clinically stable NCFB, especially those infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, display EDS and a high prevalence of OSA, associated with considerable oxygen desaturation during sleep.

Pharyngeal airspace of asthmatic individuals and those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: Study by CBCT

PURPOSE

The objective of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the oropharyngeal space of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and asthma by means of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included individuals with OSA and asthma (n=10), with OSA and without asthma (n=6), asthmatics without OSA (n=6) and healthy individuals (n=25). All patients were evaluated by a pneumologist and submitted to a nocturnal polysomnogram. Participants underwent CBCT examinations using an I-CAT^® device (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA, U.S.A.) and all images were exported to Dolphin Image 3D^® software. Cephalometric measurements were taken, as well as measurements of length (C), volume (VOL), sagittal area (SA) and minimum cross-sectional area (MCA); an evaluation was made of the format and contour of the upper airway in three dimensions, with p<0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS

In the results of the present study, a statistically significant difference was found between VOL, SA and MCA (p=0.011; p=0.009; p=0.010) with reduced elevated values among the OSA+Asthma, OSA, Asthma and Control groups. Significant differences were seen between the linear (AP), cross-sectional (TR) and mean transverse area (TA) measurements in the group of patients with OSA and asthma as compared to the control group. In the control group, the greatest narrowing of the airway was observed either in the retroglossal or retropalatal area, while more patients in the experimental groups showed narrowing in the retropalatal area.

CONCLUSION

The condition of OSA+asthma was associated with a substantial reduction in upper airway measurements in comparison to controls.

Síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño y enfermedades respiratorias

El síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño (SAHOS) es una enfermedad sistémica con afectación de múltiples órganos. El presente artículo trata la relación que existe entre el SAHOS y algunas enfermedades que comprometen el sistema respiratorio como son la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, el asma, la tos crónica, el síndrome de hipoventilación alveolar y la fibrosis pulmonar. Por lo general, cada una de estas afectaciones se diagnostica por separado, pero es importante conocer su relación de coexistencia para definir la necesidad de realizar estudios del sueño diagnósticos a los pacientes con enfermedades respiratorias, en especial cuando hay un grado desproporcionado de hipertensión pulmonar al esperado por solo la presencia de la enfermedad respiratoria.

Screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in asthma patients: a prospective study based on Berlin and STOP-Bang questionnaires

BACKGROUND

The bidirectional relationship of asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been confirmed in recent years. However, in the clinical practice, majority of asthma patients did not pay adequate attention to their sleep apnea condition. Berlin questionnaire (BQ) and STOP-Bang questionnaire (SBQ) are two most common OSA screening questionnaires to screen high-risk patients for OSA. This study aimed at evaluating the predictive performance of BQ and SBQ for OSA in asthma patients.

METHODS

Asthma outpatients of Zhongshan Hospital were enrolled into the study. All patients were asked to fill in the BQ and SBQ and clinical characteristics and asthma characteristics were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify risk factors of OSA in asthma patients. With the gold standard of laboratory-based overnight polysomnography (PSG), the predictive performance of SBQ and BQ was evaluated and compared. The probability of OSA severity was predicted by various SBQ scores in asthma patients.

RESULTS

A total of 123 asthma patients (average age 47.56±12.12 years; 57.72% males) were enrolled and underwent PSG diagnosis overnight at Sleep Center. Logistic regression analyses showed that rhinitis (adjusted OR =4.30; 95% CI: 1.50-12.37, P=0.007) and dyslipidemia (adjusted OR =2.75; 95% CI: 1.16-6.51, P=0.021) were associated with OSA in asthma patients after adjusting for known OSA risk factors. No asthma functional characteristic differences were found to be associated with OSA severity in the study. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI ≥15) in the asthmatic population sample was 36.59% (45/123). Questionnaires predictive results showed that compared with BQ, SBQ has higher diagnostic sensitivity (84.4% vs. 60%), lower specificity (79.5% vs. 91%) lower positive predictive value (PPV): (70.4% vs. 79.4%) and higher negative predictive value (NPV) (90% vs. 80%) to detect moderate-to-severe OSA at the cut-off as AHI of 15/h. OSA probability results showed that with the increasing of the questionnaire scores, the moderate and severe OSA probability of SBQ rose significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

SBQ is a preferable sleep questionnaire better than BQ for detecting moderate and severe OSA in asthma patients which should be validated in larger population sample.

Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Asthma: A Meta-Analysis

This study evaluates the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma. Literature search was carried out in several electronic databases and random effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled estimates of the prevalence of OSA, OSA risk and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in asthma patients and pooled odds ratios of the prevalence between asthma and non-asthma patients. In adult asthma patients, the prevalence [95% confidence interval] of OSA, OSA risk, and SDB was 49.50 [36.39, 62.60] %, 27.50 [19.31, 35.69] %, and 19.65 [14.84, 24.46] % respectively. The odds of having OSA, OS risk and SDB by the asthma patients were 2.64 [1.76, 3.52], 3.73 [2.90, 4.57] and 1.73 [1.11, 2.36] times higher (p < 0.00001 for all) in asthma than in non-asthma patients, respectively. Adult asthma patients with OSA had significantly higher BMI in comparison with asthma patients without OSA. This study reveals that the prevalence of OSA in asthma patients is considerably higher; even higher than OSA risk and SDB. Sleep studies should be performed in asthma patients with symptoms suggestive of OSA/OSA risk/SDB.

Risk of Periodontal Disease in Patients With Asthma: A Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Studies have reported an association between asthma and oral diseases, including periodontal diseases. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate risk of periodontal diseases for patients with asthma.

METHODS

Using the claims data of National Health Insurance of Taiwan and patients without a history of periodontal diseases, 19,206 asthmatic patients, who were newly diagnosed from 2000 through 2010, were identified. For each case, four comparison individuals without history of asthma and periodontal disease were randomly selected from the general population and frequency matched (categorical matched) by sex, age, and year of diagnosis (n = 76,824). Both cohorts were followed to the end of 2011 to monitor occurrence of periodontal diseases. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of periodontal disease were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTS

Overall incidence of periodontal diseases was 1.18-fold greater in the asthma cohort than in the comparison cohort (P <0.001). Patients with at least three emergency visits annually had an aHR of 55.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.6 to 61.7) for periodontal diseases compared with those with a mean of less than one visit. Patients with at least three admissions annually also had a similar aHR (51.8) for periodontal disease. In addition, asthmatic patients on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy had greater aHRs than non-users (aHR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.23).

CONCLUSIONS

In the studied population, asthmatic patients are at an elevated risk of developing periodontal diseases. The risk is much greater for those with emergency medical demands or hospital admissions and those on ICS treatment.

Risk of depression in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Depression is prevalent in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, no population-based study has ever investigated this relationship. We used nationwide population insurance data to conduct a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the subsequent risk of depression among patients with CRS.

METHODS

We used the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan identified 15,371 CRS patients diagnosed during 2000-2010. The non-CRS group consisted of 61,484 individuals without CRS frequency matched by sex, age, and the year of diagnosis. The occurrence of depression was monitored until the end of 2011. The hazard ratios (HRs) of depression were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model after adjusting for demographic characteristics and comorbidities.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of depression was 77% higher in the CRS group than in the non-CRS group (8.25 vs. 4.66/1000 person-years, p<0.001), with an adjusted HR of 1.56 (95% confidence interval=1.43-1.70). Further data analyses revealed that the adjusted HRs of depression in the CRS group compared with the non-CRS group by sex, age, urbanization level, monthly income, occupation category, and comorbidity were all significant. However, there was no difference in incidences of depression between CRS patients with and without surgical treatment (8.31 vs. 8.24/1000 person-years).

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that patients with CRS are at an increased risk of depression, compared with those without CRS. Therefore, we should pay attention to the psychiatric status of these patients and provide adequate support for them.

Risk of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Sleep disorders are prevalent medical disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether patients with RA are at an increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is unclear.

DESIGN

Using population-based retrospective cohort study to examine the risk of OSA in patients with RA.

SETTING

We used claims data of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

We identified a RA cohort with 33 418 patients newly diagnosed in 2000-2010 and a randomly selected non-RA comparison cohort with 33 418 individuals frequency matched by sex, age and diagnosis year.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Incident OSA was estimated by the end of 2011. The HRs of OSA were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTS

The overall incidence rate of OSA was 75% greater in the RA cohort than in the non-RA cohort (3.04 vs 1.73/10 000 person-years, p<0.001), with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.75 (95% CI 1.18 to 2.60). Stratified analyses by sex, age group and comorbidity revealed that the incidence rates of OSA associated with RA were higher in all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based retrospective cohort study suggested that patients with RA should be monitored for the risk of developing OSA.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on severe asthma exacerbations

BACKGROUND

Patients with asthma have a higher incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the association between OSA and the exacerbation of severe asthma remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of OSA in a cross-sectional study of asthma patients and to prospectively examine the significance of the effect of OSA on severe asthma exacerbations.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-six patients with asthma and 157 matched-controlled individuals were enrolled in this study. The patients with asthma were prospectively studied for one year, and exacerbation episodes were identified based on the patients' medical histories. Lung function and the percentages of eosinophils in induced sputum samples were determined, and the frequencies of severe asthma exacerbations during the previous year were evaluated in the group of patients with asthma.

RESULTS

The rates of OSA were 19.2% (28/146) among the patients with asthma and 9.6% (15/157) among the control individuals (p = 0.016). The frequency of severe asthma exacerbations was significantly higher among the asthma patients with OSA compared with those who did not have OSA (p < 0.001). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) correlated significantly with the number of severe asthma exacerbations (r = 0.507, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.357-0.637, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses determined that the AHI was significantly associated with the occurrence of severe asthma exacerbations (odds ratio 1.322, 95% CI 1.148-1.523, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with asthma had a high prevalence of OSA, which was an important factor associated with severe asthma exacerbations.

Periodontal Treatment Reduces Risk of Adverse Respiratory Events in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

Treatment of periodontal diseases has been associated with benefit outcomes for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, no population-based cohort study has been conducted. We evaluated this relationship by retrospective cohort study using a large population data.Using the National Health Insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified 5562 COPD patients with periodontal diseases who had received periodontal treatment as the treatment group. The comparison group was selected at a 1:1 ratio matched by the propensity score estimated with age, sex, date of COPD diagnosis and periodontal treatment, and comorbidities. Both groups were followed up for 5 years to compare risks of acute exacerbation, pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure.The incidence rates of adverse respiratory events were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the comparison group: 3.79 versus 4.21 per 100 person-years for emergency room visits, 2.75 versus 3.65 per 100 person-years for hospitalizations, and 0.66 versus 0.75 per 100 person-years for intensive care unit admissions. The treatment group also had a 37% reduced risk of deaths (1.81 vs 2.87 per 100 person-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.57 (95% confidence interval 0.52-0.62).Periodontal treatment for COPD patients could reduce the risk of adverse respiratory events and mortality. The adequate periodontal health care is important for COPD patients with periodontal diseases.

Prevalence of Comorbidities in Asthma and Nonasthma Patients: A Meta-analysis

This study compares the prevalence rates of comorbidities between asthma and nonasthma control patients reported in the literature.Literature was searched in several electronic databases. After the selection of studies by following précised eligibility criteria, meta-analyses of odds ratios were carried out with subgroup and sensitivity analyses.Eleven studies studying 117,548 asthma patients compared with 443,948 non-asthma controls were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities (odds ratio (OR): [95% CI] 1.90 [1.70, 2.14]; P < 0.00001), cerebrovascular comorbidities (OR 1.44 [1.29, 1.60]; P < 0.00001), obesity (OR 1.51 [1.14, 2.01]; P < 0.00001), hypertension (OR 1.66 [1.47, 1.88]; P < 0.00001, diabetes (OR 1.25 [1.08, 1.44]; P < 0.00001), other metabolic and endocrine comorbidities (OR 1.60 [1.40, 1.83]; P < 0.00001), psychiatric and neurological comorbidities (OR 1.62 [1.44, 1.82]; P < 0.00001), gut and urinary comorbidities (OR 1.91 [1.47, 2.49]; P < 0.00001),), cancer (OR 1.17 [1.10, 1.25]; P < 0.00001), and respiratory comorbidities (OR 5.60 [4.22, 7.44]; P < 0.00001) were significantly higher in the asthma patients in comparison with nonasthma controls.Asthma is associated with significantly higher comorbidities including cardio-/cerebrovascular diseases, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, psychiatric and neurological comorbidities, gut and urinary conditions, cancer, and respiratory problems other than asthma. Respiratory comorbidities are found 5 times more prevalent in asthma than in non-asthma patients.

Long-term CPAP treatment improves asthma control in patients with asthma and obstructive sleep apnoea

PURPOSE

Both asthma and obstructive sleep apnoea cause sleep disturbance, daytime sleepiness and diminished quality of life. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is efficient in reducing symptoms related to sleep apnoea. Here we report the impact of long-term use of CPAP on asthma symptoms.

METHODS

A survey questionnaire was distributed to all of our obstructive sleep apnoea patients with CPAP therapy in 2013. We used the Finnish version of the Asthma Control Test™ (ACT) and a visual analogue scale (0 = no symptoms, 100 = severe asthma symptoms). Asthma was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed disease and a special reimbursement for asthma medication by the Social Insurance Institution.

RESULTS

We sent 2577 questionnaires and received 1586 answers (61 %). One hundred ninety-seven patients were asthmatics with a prevalence of asthma among CPAP users of 13 %. We studied 152 patients (58 females) whose CPAP therapy was initiated after starting asthma medication. Their mean (SD) age was 62 (10) years, duration of CPAP 5.7 (4.7) years and their CPAP daily use was 6.3 (2.4) h. Self-reported asthma severity decreased significantly from 48.3 (29.6) to 33.1 (27.4) (p < 0.001), and ACT score increased significantly from 15.35 (5.3) to 19.8 (4.6) (p < 0.001) without a significant change in the body mass index (BMI). The percentage of patients using rescue medication daily reduced from 36 to 8 % with CPAP (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We noticed a significant decrease in asthma symptoms with long-term use of CPAP in patients with both asthma and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Modulates Airway Inflammation and Remodelling in Severe Asthma

Background

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is frequently observed in severe asthma but the causal link between the 2 diseases remains hypothetical. The role of OSA-related systemic and airway neutrophilic inflammation in asthma bronchial inflammation or remodelling has been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to compare hallmarks of inflammation in induced sputum and features of airway remodelling in bronchial biopsies from adult patients with severe asthma with and without OSA.

Materials and Methods

An overnight polygraphy was performed in 55 patients referred for difficult-to-treat asthma, who complained of nocturnal respiratory symptoms, poor sleep quality or fatigue. We compared sputum analysis, reticular basement membrane (RBM) thickness, smooth muscle area, vascular density and inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchial biopsies.

Results

In total, 27/55 patients (49%) had OSA diagnosed by overnight polygraphy. Despite a moderate increase in apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI; 14.2±1.6 event/h [5–35]), the proportion of sputum neutrophils was higher and that of macrophages lower in OSA than non-OSA patients, with higher levels of interleukin 8 and matrix metalloproteinase 9. The RBM was significantly thinner in OSA than non-OSA patients (5.8±0.4 vs. 7.8±0.4 μm, p<0.05). RBM thickness and OSA severity assessed by the AHI were negatively correlated (rho = -0.65, p<0.05). OSA and non-OSA patients did not differ in age, sex, BMI, lung function, asthma control findings or treatment.

Conclusion

Mild OSA in patients with severe asthma is associated with increased proportion of neutrophils in sputum and changes in airway remodelling.

Asthma Is Associated With a Subsequent Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

Asthma has been associated with the atherosclerosis risk, but not clear of peripheral artery disease (PAD). We attempted to examine the risk of PAD in patients with asthma.From the insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified 28,158 newly diagnosed asthma patients in 2000 to 2005 and 56,316 persons without asthma randomly selected into the comparison cohort, frequency matched by sex, age, and the date of diagnosis. Both cohorts were followed up until the end of 2011 to estimate the incident PAD. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of PAD were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model after controlling for sex, age, and comorbidities.The incidence of PAD was 1.46 times higher in the asthma cohort than in the comparison cohort, with an aHR of 1.34 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24-1.45]. Incidence of PAD was higher in men, the aged, and those with comorbidities in both cohorts. The aHRs of PAD remained significant for the asthma cohort in all subgroups of sex, age, and the presence of comorbidity. The aHRs of PAD were 14.1 (95% CI = 8.18-24.5) in asthma patients with multiple emergency visits and 22.3 (95% CI = 15.6-31.9) for those with multiple hospitalizations.Although smoking is a potential confounding factor, this study suggests patients with asthma have a significantly higher risk of developing PAD than the general population. The results also support the notion that poor control of asthma status is a key factor in subsequent PAD development.

Risk of Periodontal Diseases in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study

Several studies have reported an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and periodontal diseases. However, a large-scale population-based cohort study was previously absent from the literature. Therefore, we evaluated the risk of periodontal diseases in patients with COPD in a nationwide population.From the National Health Insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified 22,332 patients with COPD who were newly diagnosed during 2000 to 2010. For each case, two individuals without COPD were randomly selected and frequency matched by age, sex, and diagnosis year. Both groups were followed up till the end of 2011.The overall incidence of periodontal diseases was 1.19-fold greater in the COPD group than in the comparison group (32.2 vs 26.4 per 1000 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.24). Compared with non-COPD patients, the adjusted hazard ratios of patients with COPD increased with the number of emergency room visits (from 1.14 [95% CI 1.10-1.19] to 5.09 [95% CI 4.53-5.72]) and admissions (from 1.15 [95% CI 1.10-1.20] to 3.17 [95% CI 2.81-3.57]). In addition, the adjusted hazard ratios of patients with COPD treated with inhaled corticosteroids (1.22, 95% CI 1.11-1.34) and systemic corticosteroids (1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.23) were significantly higher than those of patients not treated with corticosteroids.Patient with COPD are at a higher risk of developing periodontal diseases than the general population. Our results also support that the risk of periodontal diseases is proportional to COPD control. In addition, patients who receive corticosteroid treatment are at a higher risk of developing periodontal diseases.