Maternal risk of hypertension 7-15 years after pregnancy: clues from the placenta

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether pre-eclampsia (PE)-related placental/extraplacental membrane findings are linked to moderately elevated blood pressure (BP) in pregnancy and later-life hypertension.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort.

SETTING

52 prenatal clinics, 5 Michigan communities.

SAMPLE

The POUCH Study recruited women at 16-27 weeks' gestation (1998-2004) and studied a sub-cohort in depth. This sample (n = 490) includes sub-cohort women with detailed placental assessments and cardiovascular health evaluations 7-15 years later in the POUCHmoms follow-up study.

METHODS

PE-related placental/extraplacental membrane findings (i.e. mural hyperplasia, unaltered/abnormal vessels or atherosis in decidua; infarcts) were evaluated in relation to pregnancy BP and odds of Stage 2 hypertension at follow up using weighted polytomous regression. Follow-up hypertension odds also were compared in three pregnancy BP groups: normotensives (referent) and moderately elevated BP with or without PE-related placental/extraplacental membrane findings.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Stage 2 hypertension (SBP ≥140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg, or using antihypertensive medications) at follow up.

RESULTS

After excluding women with pregnancy hypertension (i.e. chronic, PE, gestational), mural hyperplasia and unaltered/abnormal decidual vessels were each associated with Stage 2 hypertension at follow up: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.6, and aOR = 1.7 (95% CI 0.8-3.4), respectively. Women with moderately elevated BP in pregnancy and evidence of mural hyperplasia or unaltered/abnormal decidual vessels had greater odds of Stage 2 hypertension at follow up: aOR = 4.5 (95% CI 1.6-12.5 and aOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PE-related placental/extraplacental membrane findings help risk-stratify women with moderately elevated BP in pregnancy for later development of hypertension.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Placental findings associated with mother's risk of later-life hypertension.

0837 Well-Being Predicts Sleep Disturbance in a Prospective Cohort of Older Adults

Introduction

Lower well-being negatively impacts health among older adults. Optimal sleep - a determinant of health - has been associated with higher well-being. Several domains of well-being, e.g., mindfulness and purpose in life have been shown to improve sleep. But, whether well-being impacts sleep remains unclear. This study examined associations between well-being and sleep duration, sleep quality, and incident insomnia symptoms among a nationally representative sample of older US adults.

Methods

This study analyzed data from the 2011-2013 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a longitudinal, annual survey of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries. The exposure, a validated scale of well-being used questions on purpose, emotion, and self-satisfaction and divided responses into quartiles. Sleep outcomes included sleep duration, sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms. Unadjusted and adjusted linear and logistic regression models examined relationships between the health characteristics and well-being score in 2012 and sleep outcomes in 2013. Covariates included demographics and health characteristics.

Results

Half of study participants (n=2,000) were women. The mean sleep duration was 7.2 and 7.3 (standard error(SE) ±0.1) for men and women. Poor sleep quality was reported by 30% of subjects and more frequently among Hispanic subjects, older adults, and those with less education. The mean well-being score was 17.2 (SE ±0.07). Higher well-being scores correlated with male gender, younger age, higher education, marriage, and increased physical activity. Well-being scores in the 2nd - 4th quartile had lower odds of poor sleep quality (4th quartile adjusted odd ratio 0.24 (95% CI 0.15, 0.38). The highest well-being quartile had a 4-fold lower incidence of insomnia symptoms. Well-being scores were not associated with sleep duration

Conclusion

Higher well-being may protect older adults against the development of insomnia and poor sleep quality. Strategies to improve well-being could offer an innovative way to improve the health of older Americans though better sleep.

Support

none

1131 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment and Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Introduction

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) has been linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), as well as pre-dementia. The potential benefits of OSA treatment on cognitive performance are inconclusive. Further, the impact of OSA treatment on the development of neurodegenerative disorders has not been sufficiently studied. This study examined associations between Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy and incident diagnosis of pre-dementia (MCI), dementia (DNOS), or AD in a population-level sample of older adults.

Methods

Using a random 5% sample from Medicare claims data (persons age 65 and older), individuals with an ICD-9 diagnosis code for OSA prior to 2011 (n=53,321) were selected for analyses. Over the survey period (2011-2013), we further identified persons newly diagnosed with MCI (n=443), DNOS (n=378), or AD (n=1,057). We also identified individual HCPCS claims for PAP equipment as evidence of prescription, and repeated HCPCS claims for supplies as evidence of adherence to PAP treatment. Logistic regression models were used to adjust for potential confounders including age, gender, hypertension, and Parkinson’s Disease that might increase risk for dementia.

Results

Seventy-eight percent of beneficiaries with OSA were prescribed PAP, and 74% showed evidence of adherent use. After adjustment for potential confounders, prescription of PAP was associated with significantly lower odds of incident AD and DNOS (OR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.89; and OR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.85). Lower odds of MCI, approaching statistical significance, were also observed among beneficiaries who were prescribed PAP (OR=0.82, (95% CI: 0.66, 1.02). Evidence of adherence to PAP was significantly associated with lower odds of incident AD (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.76).

Conclusion

Among older individuals with OSA, PAP prescription and adherence are each associated with a significantly lower risk of incident AD or DNOS, though not MCI. Although a prospective cohort design cannot prove causality, results suggest that treatment of OSA could reduce risk of subsequent dementia.

Support

This study was supported by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation Strategic Research Award 115-SR-15 (PI Braley).

0654 Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Older Adults: Geographic Variation in CPAP Treatment

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent and consequential among older adults. Positive airway pressure (PAP) is likely to reduce associated morbidity, but adherence is inconsistent. Regional treatment variations that may reflect addressable differences in care are not sufficiently studied. We examined geographic variations in PAP treatment among older US adults.

Methods

A representative 5% sample of all Medicare beneficiaries, age 65+, enrolled in fee-for-service program in 2013 was analyzed. OSA diagnosis was defined by ICD-9 codes. PAP treatment was identified by HCPCS codes. Treatment adherence was defined as ≥2 HCPCS claims for PAP supplies on separate months. We examined state-specific proportions of Medicare beneficiaries with OSA who obtained PAP and showed adherence. Maps were created to represent state-specific proportions of beneficiaries who were treated and adherent, by quantiles. To examine more granular regional variations, we created maps representing hospital referral region (HRR)-specific proportions of treated among diagnosed, and adherent among treated. Scatterplots were used to identify the relationship between proportions of PAP treatment and adherence, by state.

Results

For the state-level data, PAP treatment and adherence rates were between 54%-87% and 59%-81%, respectively. Midwest states had higher CPAP treatment proportions (>80%), while Northeast, Southwest and Southern states had CPAP treatment rates <73%. State-level CPAP adherence showed similar patterns, with lowest rates in southern states and California (<70%). Within-state variability of treatment patterns were observed, especially along the east and the west coasts. A scatterplot revealed that state-level CPAP treatment and adherence rates were linearly correlated, with Washington D.C., NY and NJ ranked lowest. In contrast, MT, ND and VT had the highest treatment and adherence rates.

Conclusion

These data show substantial state-level and regional variability of CPAP treatment and adherence among Medicare beneficiaries. Some geographic areas may merit prioritization in efforts to improve OSA treatment and adherence.

Support

This study was supported by The American Sleep Medicine Foundation Strategic Research Award 115-SR-15

0723 Associations Between Opioids, Non-Opioids and Central Sleep Apnea: A Case-Control Study

Introduction

Opioids are known to contribute to central sleep apnea (CSA), as they depress responsiveness to carbon dioxide and hypoxia. However, the role of non-opioid medications (antihistamines, myorelaxants, neuroleptics, antidepressants, and hypnotics) in CSA remains unclear. Given the hypothesized impact of non-opioids on the central nervous system, we examined associations between opioid and non-opioid medications and CSA.

Methods

Among all adults who underwent polysomnography testing at the University of Michigan’s Sleep Center between 2013-2018 (n=10,479), we identified 105 cases of CSA. Of these patients, we randomly selected 300 controls. Demographic and health characteristics, use of medications were obtained from medical charts. We classified study participants into three categories based on medication use: non-opioids only, opioids alone or in combination with non-opioids, and none. CSA was defined as a binary outcome using polysomnographic criteria as per the International Classification of Sleep Disorders-Third Edition. We used logistic regression to examine associations between medication use and CSA.

Results

Among participants, male:female ratio was 1:1 with a mean age of 49 (±14.3 SD) years. Opioid use alone was rare (4%), but more common in combination with non-opioids (17%), while the exclusive use of non-opioids was found among 38%.

In adjusted analyses for age and sex, those who used non-opioid alone were less likely to have a CSA diagnosis (OR=0.88, (95% CI 0.5-1.6); however, the use of opioids (alone or in combination with non-opioids) was associated with a 4-fold higher odds of CSA.

Conclusion

These data suggest that non-opioids have a protective influence on CSA. Conversely, opioids, alone, or in combination with non-opioids, were associated with increased CSA risk, that may be attributed to opioids alone, or to opioids and non-opioids interactions. However, as opioids were mostly co-prescribed with non-opioids, the sole effect of opioids from the synergistic effect with non-opioids are difficult to disentangle.

Support

Dr. Gavidia was supported by a T32 Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience NIH/NINDS T32 NS 007222

0221 Late Meals, Sleep Duration, and Sleep Fragmentation: Findings From the American Time Use Survey

Introduction

Sleep hygiene recommendations discourage eating close to bedtime, though published data on the impact are not consistent. Associations between eating or drinking, within 1-hour prior to bedtime, sleep duration and sleep fragmentation were examined in a nationally-representative sample.

Methods

Data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), administered to a nationally representative sample of n=201,151 US residents aged ≥15 years were utilized. In an annual phone interview, ATUS participants were asked to record their activities during a 24-hour period (04:00am to 04:00am on the interview day) and were randomly selected to report weekdays or weekend activities. The present analysis included data from 2003–2018 and restricted to weekday respondents (n=124,242). Reporting of eating/drinking activities within 1-hour prior to bedtime was considered as a dichotomous variable (yes/no). Sleep fragmentation was defined as any awakening during the primary sleep episode (yes/no). Linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, cohabitation, education and employment, were used to examine associations between eating/drinking and sleep duration or sleep fragmentation.

Results

In this ATUS sample, 56% of respondents were female and the mean age was 45 years. Mean sleep duration was 8.02 (0.007) hours, and 6% of survey participants ate/drank within 1-hour prior to bedtime. Overall, eating/drinking within 1-hour prior to bedtime was associated with longer sleep duration (p<0.01). Women and men who ate/drank within 1-hour prior to bedtime, in comparison to those who did not, had 35 minutes and 26 minutes longer sleep duration (p- value<0.0001) Eating/drinking activities within 1-hour prior to bedtime were associated with 1.8 higher odds of fragmented sleep (p<0.001).

Conclusion

In this large population-based survey, weekday eating or drinking within 1-hour prior to bedtime was associated with sleep fragmentation and longer sleep duration. Causal pathways would be difficult to discern, though sleep fragmentation could lead to compensatory increases in sleep duration.

Support

None

0631 Respiratory Infection Risk in PAP Users

Introduction

Although positive airway pressure (PAP) effectively treats obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adherence remains suboptimal for many patients. One factor that may influence a patient’s decision to use PAP is a prevailing concern that use of unsanitized PAP equipment may serve as a reservoir for pathogens that cause respiratory tract infections (RTI). Conversely, untreated OSA could also have long-term consequences, including impaired immune function, raising the possibility that PAP therapy could reduce RTI risk. The objective of this study is to compare RTI patterns before and after initiation of PAP in persons with OSA, and examine clinical characteristics that may influence RTI risk.

Methods

Patients with at least 2 years of continuous primary care at Michigan Medicine preceding and following their OSA diagnosis (N=480) were considered eligible for analyses. Medical charts were reviewed to determine pre- and post-PAP RTI frequency and characteristics during this time frame. Change in RTI frequency was examined with paired T-tests.

Results

Male:female ratio was 1:1, mean age 56 years, mean apnea hypopnea index was 10, N=85/480 had documented good PAP compliance (defined as ≥ 4h/night, 70% of the nights). Among 480 patients, total RTI frequency pre and post PAP therapy were 170 and 144 respectively (p=0.11). Data collection is ongoing.

Conclusion

These preliminary data suggest that use of PAP is not associated with increased risk of respiratory infections. Further data regarding clinical characteristics that may influence RTI risk in OSA patients will be informed by ongoing data collection and planned multivariable analyses.

Support

Dr. Gavidia is supported by a Training in Clinical and Basic Neuroscience T32 (NIH/NINDS T32 NS 007222)