Harriet Akre

High Prevalence of Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure Outpatients: Even in Patients With Preserved Systolic Function

BACKGROUND Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF). However, little is known about the prevalence of SDB in a general heart failure population including patients with preserved EF (HFPEF). METHODS We prospectively enrolled stable heart failure outpatients from our heart failure clinic to assess the prevalence of SDB independent of systolic left ventricular function. RESULTS Among 115 patients (62% with reduced EF, 38% with preserved EF, New York Heart Association Class II-IV) SDB was present in 81% (27% central sleep apnea, 54% obstructive sleep apnea [OSA]). HFPEF patients had SDB in 80% of the cases, 62% had OSA. This group had significantly more hypertension. CONCLUSIONS This study shows a high prevalence of SDB in a general heart failure population, also in patients with HFPEF. These patients have predominantly OSA. Especially in patients with HFPEF SDB should be kept in mind and referral to a sleep specialist should be considered.

Epidemiological aspects of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: a population-based study.

The incidence of genital infections, cervical cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer induced by human papillomaviruses (HPV) is increasing in Western countries. Primarily, this study was conducted to estimate the incidence rate of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in juveniles and adults in two Norwegian subpopulations for each year between 1987 and 2009. The secondary objective of the study was to investigate whether there are trends in the incidence rates of RRP in the study period similar to what we have seen for HPV‐related cancer.

Obstructive sleep apnea in younger school children with Down syndrome

OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 8 year old school children with Down syndrome (DS). While the prevalence in otherwise healthy children is below 5%, the prevalence estimates in children with DS are uncertain (30-80%). OSA directly affects cognitive development and school performance. STUDY DESIGN Population based cross sectional study in a limited geographical area. METHODS Polysomnography (PSG) with video and audio recordings was performed in 8-year-old children with DS in a pediatric sleep unit according to the guidelines of American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Twenty-nine of all 32 children with DS within a restricted area comprising >50% of the Norwegian population and 54% of the children with DS born in Norway in 2002 were enrolled. RESULTS This study reports an apnea hypopnea index AHI>1.5 in 28 of 29 children and an obstructive apnea index (OAI)>1 in 24 of 29 children. 19 children (66%) had an AHI>5 and 17 children (59%) had an OAI>5 which indicated moderate to severe OSA. No correlation was found between OSA and obesity or gender. CONCLUSION The high prevalence of disease found in these previously undiagnosed 8-year-old children underlines the importance of performing OSA diagnostics in children with DS throughout childhood. These findings suggest that the prevalence of OSA remains high up to early school years. In contrast to earlier publications, this current study has the advantage of being population based, the study is performed on children of a narrow age band to estimate prevalence of disease and the diagnostic gold standard of PSG is applied.

Pulseoximetry: sufficient to diagnose severe sleep apnea

OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical value of pulseoximetry in the diagnosis of sleep apnea when satisfactory agreement with polysomnography is obtained. METHODS This was a prospective clinical study, set in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. One hundred consecutive patients were investigated for sleep related breathing disorders. The main outcome measurements were: measurement success rate, oxygen desaturation thresholds, sensitivity and specificity at apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI) thresholds of 5 and 15. RESULTS Pulseoximetry was successfully performed in 93%. When different oxygen desaturation thresholds were calculated, optimal agreement with polysomnography was found at a 3% oxygen desaturation level. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing moderate/severe sleep apnea (AHI above 15) were 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. The corresponding figures for milder sleep apnea (AHI above 5) were 0.91 and 0.67. Good agreement was found between the AHI and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) at the 3% level, with a mean AHI-ODI difference of 2.6 (SD, 7.3), a Pearson correlation of 0.95 and a weighted kappa of 0.86. The best agreement was found for AHI values below 15, where the estimated AHI-ODI difference was only -0.4 (SD, 3.3). CONCLUSIONS Pulseoximetry is a simple, non-invasive procedure, which is easy to perform and well suited for outpatient registration. When adjusted to polysomnography with high sensitivity of hypopnea registrations, an ODI at the 3% level is optimal to diagnose sleep apnea. In patients with moderate/severe sleep apnea with AHI values above 15, it is sufficient to establish the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. A negative pulseoximetry does not rule out sleep disorders; the patients should complete a full examination.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: HPV genotypes and risk of high-grade laryngeal neoplasia.

Patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in Norway treated between 1987 and 2009 were recruited to this cohort study. They were followed from disease onset and data recorded until January 2012. Here, we describe the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, the prevalence of multiple HPV infections, and the risk of high-grade laryngeal neoplasia and respiratory tract invasive carcinoma in a large cohort of patients with RRP. We also examined whether HPV genotype, gender, age or clinical course are risk factors for this development. Clinical records and histological specimens were reviewed. Using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsies, HPV genotyping were performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays identifying 15 HPV types. HPV-negative specimens were analyzed by metagenomic sequencing. Paraffin blocks were available in 224/238 patients. The DNA quality was approved in 221/224 cases. HPV DNA was detected in 207/221 patients and all were HPV 6 or HPV 11 positive, comprising HPV 6 in 133/207, HPV 11 in 40/207 cases and HPV 6/11 in 15/207 cases. Co-infection with one or two high-risk HPV types together with HPV 6 or HPV 11 was present in 19/207 patients. Metagenomic sequencing of 14 HPV-negative specimens revealed HPV 8 in one case. In total, 39/221 patients developed high-grade laryngeal neoplasia. 8/221 patients developed carcinoma of the respiratory tract (six patients with laryngeal carcinoma and two patients with lung carcinoma). High-grade laryngeal neoplasias were found more frequently in HPV-negative versus HPV-positive patients, (RR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.1, 4.99), as well as respiratory tract carcinomas (RR = 48, 95% CI 10.72, 214.91). In summary, the majority of RRP were associated with HPV 6 and/or 11. HPV-negative RRP biopsies occurred more frequently in adult-onset patients, and were associated with an increased risk of laryngeal neoplasia and carcinoma in the respiratory tract.

Sleep apnoea headache in the general population

Background: The objective was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of sleep apnoea headache. Methods: A postal questionnaire was received by 40,000 Norwegians from the general population. A total of 376 and 157 persons with high and low risk of sleep apnoea according to the Berlin Questionnaire had a polysomnography, and a clinical interview and examination by physicians. Results: Sleep apnoea headache was diagnosed in 11.8% of the participants with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), while morning headache with similar symptomatology was diagnosed in 4.6% of the participants without OSA (p = 0.002). After adjusting for potential confounders the odds ratio for OSA remained significantly increased among participants with morning headache with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.92 (1.31–6.51). When using a cut-off of moderate (apnoea hypopnea index, AHI ≥ 15) and severe (AHI ≥ 30) OSA, the prevalence of sleep apnoea headache was 11.6% and 13.3%, respectively. Average oxygen desaturation and lowest oxygen saturation was not significantly different in participants with OSA with and without morning headache. Conclusion: Morning headaches were significantly more frequent among participants with OSA than those without OSA. Sleep apnoea headache is less common in the general population than has previously been reported in clinic populations. The relation of hypoxia and morning headache is questioned.

Patient discomfort in polysomnography with esophageal pressure measurements.

The reference method for measuring respiratory effort and for differentiating between obstructive and central apneas in the diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders is overnight monitoring of esophageal pressure. Despite this being the reference method, it is not widely used because it is considered invasive and uncomfortable for the patients. The aim of this study was to assess patient discomfort and insertion difficulty when using an esophageal catheter during polysomnography. We have performed a prospective questionnaire-based clinical study in 799 consecutive patients where polysomnography with an esophageal catheter was routinely performed in the diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders. The main outcome measures were the catheter-related discomfort experienced by the patient and difficulty of catheter insertion reported by the sleep technician. Ninety-six percent of the patients accepted the insertion of the catheter, and most of the patients considered it acceptable to sleep with the catheter. Correspondingly, in most of the patients, the catheter was easily inserted, and there were difficulties in only a few patients. Specifically, no complications or side effects were reported when using the catheter. To optimize the diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders, an esophageal sensor catheter can be used during polysomnography, without causing major patient discomfort.

Evaluation of a portable recording device (Reggie) with actimeter and nasopharyngeal/ esophagus catheter incorporated

Background: Portable recording devices without electroencephalogram recordings are frequently used for diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing. However, an exact measure of sleep is important, since the diagnosis is based on the average number of events per hour of sleep, the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI). Actimetry is a simplified method for distinguishing sleep and wakefulness by measurements of activity. Objectives: In this study, recording with a portable recording device (Reggie) including an incorporated actimeter and polysomnography were done simultaneously in order to test the effect of the actimeter. Methods: The study was performed at the sleep-related breathing disorder unit at the Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Fifty-two consecutive patients referred to the hospital for diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing were included. Results: There is agreement between the AHI obtained from the polysomnography and the AHI obtained from the Reggie system. The estimated mean difference is 3.5, with an SD of 5.3 (r = 0.98). The sleep time calculated with the Reggie system is greater than the sleep time obtained by polysomnography, the mean difference being 46 min, SD 56 min (r = 0.45). Conclusions: Sleep time calculations with the Reggie system overestimate the sleep time. Still, the AHIs obtained by the two systems show good agreement. There is a slight tendency for the Reggie system to provide an AHI which is too low. This difference is small, and in most cases, it will be of no clinical significance.

Hearing level in children with Down syndrome at the age of eight

This study examines the prevalence of hearing loss in children with Down syndrome at the age of 8. All children were examined in the ENT-departments of public hospitals in Norway and the study population consisted of children born in Norway in 2002 with Down syndrome. Hearing loss was defined as pure-tone air-conduction reduction by on average more than 25 dB HL in the best hearing ear. A cross sectional clinical and audiological population based study was chosen as study design. Hearing loss more than 25 dB HL in the best hearing ear was found in 17/49 children (35%). Mild hearing loss was found in 13 children (26%), moderate in 3 (6%) children and severe hearing loss in 1 child (2%). Conductive hearing loss was found in 8 children (16%), 9 children (18%) had a sensory-neural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss was found in 3 children. Mean hearing level among boys and girls were 30.0 dB HL (SD 15.7) and 25.5 dB HL (SD13.7) respectively, a non-significant difference (p=0.139). In conclusion this study indicates that both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, is still common in children with Down syndrome children at the age of eight and as much as two thirds of the children may have a bilateral impairment. The study population was under diagnosed in terms of hearing loss and thus our findings underline the importance of continuous audiological follow up of this group of children throughout childhood.

Otitis media with effusion in children with in Down syndrome

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children with Down syndrome (DS), and the associated to hearing loss at the age of 8 years. STUDY DESIGN A national population based clinical study of all children with DS born in Norway in 2002. RESULTS OME was found in 20 out of 52 (38%) children. Those with OME had a significant lower hearing level with a mean pure tone average (PTA) of 33.4 dB HL compared to children with no OME whose mean PTA was 21.7 dB HL (p < 0.0001). Verified hearing loss above 25 dB HL in the better hearing ear was found in 12 out of the 20 with OME, compared to 5 out 31 without OME. CONCLUSION The findings of this present study uncover the increased risk of OME in eight year old children with DS as current otitis media was found in one of three. This reduced hearing ability in children with DS due to OME at age of 8 strongly emphasizes the need for optimal treatment and follow up to optimize hearing rehabilitation. The findings are further supported by the population based study design, the focus on the narrow age band and the high response rate.