Showing papers on "Sleep disorder published in 2004"

Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults

Abstract: OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by intermittent complete and partial airway collapse, resulting in frequent episodes of apnea and hypopnea. The breathing pauses cause acute adverse effects, including oxyhemoglobin desaturation, fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, increased sympathetic activity, cortical arousal, and sleep fragmentation. The condition has received increasing attention during the past 3 decades. Until 1981, the only effective treatment for OSA was tracheostomy. The advent of continuous positive air pressure therapy, an effective noninvasive treatment, was a turning point, and clinical interest began to increase in tandem with the accumulation of research linking OSA to cognitive, behavioral, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular morbidities (FIGURE). Findings from large population studies in different countries during the last decade have contributed to a better understanding of the epidemiology of OSA. In most population studies, OSA status has been indicated by the frequency of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep (apnea-hypopnea index) as determined by polysomnography (a continuous overnight recording of sleep, breathing, and cardiac parameters). The apnea-hypopnea index cutpoints of 5, 15, and 30 (with or without daytime sleepiness) are commonly used to indicate mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively. These studies have demonstrated that OSA is highly prevalent in adults (TABLE). Approximately 1 in 5 adults has at least mild OSA and 1 in 15 adults has OSA of moderate or worse severity. In the United States, 75% to 80% of OSA cases that could benefit from treatment remain undiagnosed. Associations of OSA with serious morbidity have raised concern that untreated OSA is a substantial but underappreciated public health threat. Primary care physicians are currently being encouraged to be alert to OSA symptoms of disruptive snoring, breathing pauses, and excessive daytime sleepiness in their patients. It is important that physicians also recognize that not all OSA patients are “Pickwickian” (ie, male, obese, sleepy, snoring, and middle-aged), a stereotype that emerged from clinical observations of the highly selective patient populations observed in earlier years. The goal of this article is to review recent findings from populationbased epidemiology studies on risk factors for OSA in adults.

Shift work sleep disorder: prevalence and consequences beyond that of symptomatic day workers.

Abstract: Study Objectives: Although there are considerable data demonstrating the impact of shift work on sleep and alertness, little research has examined the prevalence and consequences of shift work sleep disorder in comparison to the difficulties with insomnia and excessive sleepiness experienced by day workers. The present study was designed to determine the relative prevalence and negative consequences associated with shift work sleep disorder in a representative sample drawn from the working population of metropolitan Detroit. Design: Random-digit dialing techniques were used to assess individuals regarding their current work schedules and a variety of sleep- and non-sleep-related outcomes. Setting: Detroit tricounty population. Participants: A total of 2,570 individuals aged 18 to 65 years from a representative community-based sample including 360 people working rotating shifts, 174 people working nights, and 2036 working days. Measurements and Results: Using standardized techniques, individuals were assessed for the presence of insomnia and excessive sleepiness, based on DSM-IV and ICSD criteria. Those individuals with either insomnia or excessive sleepiness and who were currently working rotating or night schedules were classified as having shift work sleep disorder. Occupational, behavioral, and health-related outcomes were also measured. Individuals who met criteria for shift work sleep disorder had significantly higher rates of ulcers (odds ratio = 4.18, 95% confidence interval = 2.00-8.72), sleepiness-related accidents, absenteeism, depression, and missed family and social activities more frequently compared to those shift workers who did not meet criteria (P <.05). Importantly, in most cases, the morbidity associated with shift work sleep disorder was significantly greater than that experienced by day workers with identical symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggest that individuals with shift work sleep disorder are at risk for significant behavioral and health-related morbidity associated with their sleep-wake symptomatology. Further, it suggests that the prevalence of shift work sleep disorder is approximately 10% of the night and rotating shift work population.

Functional Neuroimaging Evidence for Hyperarousal in Insomnia

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the neurobiological basis of poor sleep and daytime fatigue in insomnia. METHOD: [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was used to assess regional cerebral glucose metabolism of seven patients with insomnia and 20 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, patients with insomnia showed greater global cerebral glucose metabolism during sleep and while awake, a smaller decline in relative metabolism from waking to sleep states in wake-promoting regions, and reduced relative metabolism in the prefrontal cortex while awake. CONCLUSIONS: Subjectively disturbed sleep in patients with insomnia is associated with greater brain metabolism. The inability to fall asleep may be related to a failure of arousal mechanisms to decline in activity from waking to sleep states. Further, daytime fatigue may reflect decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex resulting from inefficient sleep.

The Effects of Age, Sex, Ethnicity, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing on Sleep Architecture

Abstract: Background Polysomnography is used to assess sleep quality and to gauge the functional effect of sleep disorders. Few population-based data are available to estimate the variation in sleep architecture across the population and the extent to which sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), a common health condition, contributes to poor sleep independent of other factors. The objective of this study was to describe the population variability in sleep quality and to quantify the independent associations with SDB. Methods Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data from 2685 participants, aged 37 to 92 years, in a community-based multicenter cohort study. Dependent measures included the percentage time in each sleep stage, the arousal index, and sleep efficiency. Independent measures were age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidity status, and the respiratory disturbance index. Results Lighter sleep was found in men relative to women and in American Indians and blacks relative to other ethnic groups. Increasing age was associated with impaired sleep in men, with less consistent associations in women. Notably, women had, on average, 106% more slow wave sleep. Sleep-disordered breathing was associated with poorer sleep; however, these associations were generally smaller than associations with sex, ethnicity, and age. Current smokers had lighter sleep than ex-smokers or never smokers. Obesity had little effect on sleep. Conclusions Sleep architecture varies with sex, age, ethnicity, and SDB. Individual assessment of the effect of SDB on sleep quality needs to account for other host characteristics. Men, but not women, show evidence of poorer sleep with aging, suggesting important sex differences in sleep physiology.

Restless legs syndrome

Abstract: In the past 10 years, restless legs syndrome (RLS) has gained recognition as a common sleep disorder. There are several therapeutic options in treating patients with RLS. RLS causes significant sleep disturbance and negatively impacts on patient quality of life. Pharmacologic treatment can result in improved sleep and quality of life issues. RLS patients should be evaluated for iron deficiency anemia; iron replacement in deficient patients may lead to a resolution of symptoms or may reduce the severity of their symptoms. For patients with daily symptoms, the initial therapy is dopamine agonists. Low doses given in the evening or 2 hours before bed provide adequate relief of symptoms for many RLS patients. Augmentation can be seen with all dopamine agents, but is most prevalent with levodopa. Levodopa therapy is best used for milder intermittent symptoms or in aggravating situations, such as long car rides. Opiates and antiepileptics remain a beneficial therapy for RLS and are useful in patients who experience pain as part of their RLS. Newer anticonvulsants may provide additional treatment options, but they have yet to undergo clinical trials. Intravenous iron also may provide relief of RLS symptoms; however, dosing and safety issues have not been fully evaluated in a RLS population.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Pharmacotherapy for Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Direct Comparison

Abstract: Background Chronic sleep-onset insomnia is a prevalent health complaint in adults. Although behavioral and pharmacological therapies have been shown to be effective for insomnia, no placebo-controlled trials have evaluated their separate and combined effects for sleep-onset insomnia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of behavioral and pharmacological therapy, singly and in combination, for chronic sleep-onset insomnia. Methods This was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that involved 63 young and middle-aged adults with chronic sleep-onset insomnia. Interventions included cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), pharmacotherapy, or combination therapy compared with placebo. The main outcome measures were sleep-onset latency as measured by sleep diaries; secondary measures included sleep diary measures of sleep efficiency and total sleep time, objective measures of sleep variables (Nightcap sleep monitor recorder), and measures of daytime functioning. Results In most measures, CBT was the most sleep effective intervention; it produced the greatest changes in sleep-onset latency and sleep efficiency, yielded the largest number of normal sleepers after treatment, and maintained therapeutic gains at long-term follow-up. The combined treatment provided no advantage over CBT alone, whereas pharmacotherapy produced only moderate improvements during drug administration and returned measures toward baseline after drug use discontinuation. Conclusions These findings suggest that young and middle-age patients with sleep-onset insomnia can derive significantly greater benefit from CBT than pharmacotherapy and that CBT should be considered a first-line intervention for chronic insomnia. Increased recognition of the efficacy of CBT and more widespread recommendations for its use could improve the quality of life of a large numbers of patients with insomnia.

Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in middle-aged Korean men and women.

Abstract: With many epidemiologic studies made to establish the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in Western countries, no such data have been reported in Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of SDB and OSAS, and their related factors in Korean adults aged 40-69 years. Among the total of 5,020 participants at the baseline examination of the Korean Health and Genome Study, a random sample of 457 men and women was studied with employment of overnight full polysomnography to determine the prevalence of SDB and OSAS. The prevalence of SDB (apnea-hypopnea index > or = 5) was 27% and 16% in men and women, respectively. When OSAS was defined by an apnea-hypopnea index > or = 5 plus excessive daytime sleepiness, its prevalence was 4.5% in men and 3.2% in women. Logistic regression analyses showed that sex, body mass index, and hypertension were closely associated with the risk of SDB. Our findings show that SDB is a common problem in the Korean adult population. Understanding and treatment of SDB may be essential in terms of intervention to reduce the risk of related medical problems.

Psychological adjustment and sleep quality in a randomized trial of the effects of a Tibetan yoga intervention in patients with lymphoma.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Research suggests that stress-reduction programs tailored to the cancer setting help patients cope with the effects of treatment and improve their quality of life. Yoga, an ancient Eastern science, incorporates stress-reduction techniques that include regulated breathing, visual imagery, and meditation as well as various postures. The authors examined the effects of the Tibetan yoga (TY) practices of Tsa lung and Trul khor, which incorporate controlled breathing and visualization, mindfulness techniques, and low-impact postures in patients with lymphoma. METHODS Thirty-nine patients with lymphoma who were undergoing treatment or who had concluded treatment within the past 12 months were assigned to a TY group or to a wait-list control group. Patients in the TY group participated in 7 weekly yoga sessions, and patients in the wait-list control group were free to participate in the TY program after the 3-month follow-up assessment. RESULTS Eighty nine percent of TY participants completed at least 2–3 three yoga sessions, and 58% completed at least 5 sessions. Patients in the TY group reported significantly lower sleep disturbance scores during follow-up compared with patients in the wait-list control group (5.8 vs. 8.1; P < 0.004). This included better subjective sleep quality (P < 0.02), faster sleep latency (P < 0.01), longer sleep duration (P < 0.03), and less use of sleep medications (P < 0.02). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of intrusion or avoidance, state anxiety, depression, or fatigue. CONCLUSIONS The participation rates suggested that a TY program is feasible for patients with cancer and that such a program significantly improves sleep-related outcomes. However, there were no significant differences between groups for the other outcomes. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.

Sleepiness, sleep-disordered breathing, and accident risk factors in commercial vehicle drivers.

Abstract: Sleep-disordered breathing and excessive sleepiness may be more common in commercial vehicle drivers than in the general population. The relative importance of factors causing excessive sleepiness and accidents in this population remains unclear. We measured the prevalence of excessive sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing and assessed accident risk factors in 2,342 respondents to a questionnaire distributed to a random sample of 3,268 Australian commercial vehicle drivers and another 161 drivers among 244 invited to undergo polysomnography. More than half (59.6%) of drivers had sleep-disordered breathing and 15.8% had obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Twenty-four percent of drivers had excessive sleepiness. Increasing sleepiness was related to an increased accident risk. The sleepiest 5% of drivers on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire had an increased risk of an accident (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, p = 0.02 and OR 2.23, p < 0.01, respectively) and multiple accidents (OR 2.67, p < 0.01 and OR 2.39, p = 0.01), adjusted for established risk factors. There was an increased accident risk with narcotic analgesic use (OR 2.40, p < 0.01) and antihistamine use (OR 3.44, p = 0.04). Chronic excessive sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing are common in Australian commercial vehicle drivers. Accident risk was related to increasing chronic sleepiness and antihistamine and narcotic analgesic use.

Sleep patterns and sleep disorders in children with autistic spectrum disorders: insights using parent report and actigraphy

Abstract: The present study sought to describe the profile of sleep disturbance reported in children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) and to document any sleep disorders underlying reports of sleeplessness. Sixty-nine children aged 5 to 16 years (mean 9 years 4 months, SD 2 years 7 months; 14 females) with an ASD were assessed by detailed sleep histories taken from parents, the Simonds and Parraga Sleep Questionnaire, a 2-week sleep diary, and actigraphs worn by the child for five nights. Parent-reported sleeplessness featured prominently (64%). Sleep disorders underlying the sleeplessness were most commonly behavioural (i.e. to do with inappropriate sleep-related behaviours), although sleep-wake cycle disorders and anxiety-related problems were also seen. In addition, the sleeplessness patterns of a large minority of children could not be classified by conventional diagnostic criteria. Sleep patterns measured objectively did not differ between those children with or without reported sleeplessness, but the sleep quality of all children seemed to be compromised compared with normal values.

Sleep patterns and fatigue in new mothers and fathers.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the sleep patterns and fatigue of both mothers and fathers before and after childbirth. The authors used wrist actigraphy and questionnaires to estimate sleep and fatigue in 72 couples during their last month of pregnancy and 1st month postpartum. Both parents experienced more sleep disruption at night during the postpartum period as compared to the last month of pregnancy. Compared to fathers, with their stable 24-h sleep patterns over time, mothers had less sleep at night and more sleep during the day after the baby was born. Sleep patterns were also related to parents' work status and type of infant feeding. Both parents self-reported more sleep disturbance and fatigue during the 1st month postpartum than during pregnancy. Mothers reported more sleep disturbance than fathers, but there was no gender difference in ratings of fatigue. At both time points, fathers obtained less total sleep than mothers when sleep was objectively measured throughout the entire 24-h day. Further research is needed to determine the duration of sleep loss for both mothers and fathers, to evaluate the effect of disrupted sleep and sleep loss on psychosocial functioning and job performance, and to develop interventions for improving sleep patterns of new parents.

Neuropsychological sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: a critical review.

Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a well-recognized clinical sleep disorder that results in chronically fragmented sleep and recurrent hypoxemia. The primary daytime sequelae of the disorder include patient reports of excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, and attention and concentration problems. It has been well established that OSAHS negatively impacts certain aspects of cognitive functioning. The primary goals of this article are to (1) clarify the pattern of cognitive deficits that are specific to OSAHS; (2) identify the specific cognitive domains that improve with treatment; and (3) elucidate the possible mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in OSAHS. At the conclusion of the paper, we propose a potential neurofunctional theory to account for the etiology of cognitive deficits in OSAHS. Thirty-seven peer-reviewed articles were selected for this review. In general, findings were equivocal for most cognitive domains. Treatment, however, was noted to improve attention/vigilance in most studies and consistently did not improve constructional abilities or psychomotor functioning. The results are discussed in the context of a neurofunctional theory for the effects of OSAHS on the brain.

Prevalence of Sleep-disordered Breathing and Sleep Apnea in Middle-aged Urban Indian Men

Abstract: No data are available on the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in Indians. We conducted a two-phase cross-sectional prevalence study for the same in healthy urban Indian males (35–65 years) coming to our hospital in Bombay for a routine health check. We also investigated its risk factors and evaluated the significance of the most commonly asked questions that best correlated with the presence of OSAHS. In the first phase, 658 subjects (94%) returned completed questionnaires regarding their sleep habits and associated medical conditions. In the second phase, 250 of these underwent an overnight home sleep study. The estimated prevalence of SDB (apnea–hypopnea index of 5 or more) was 19.5%, and that of OSAHS (SDB with daytime hypersomnolence) was 7.5%. Multiple stepwise logistic regression determined body mass index, neck girth, and history of diabetes mellitus as the principal covariates of SDB. The presence of snoring, nocturnal choking, un...

Vulnerability to stress-related sleep disturbance and hyperarousal.

Abstract: Study objectives To determine the presence of a hypothesized trait vulnerability to sleep disturbance and hyperarousal. Design Polysomnographic assessment of sleep in response to stress during a first night in the laboratory and subsequent physiologic arousal. Participants One hundred and four individuals (46% men, mean age 40.4 +/- 12.9 years) drawn from a population-based sample. Interventions Individuals were exposed to a first night in the laboratory. Measurements and results Participants completed a Likert-scale questionnaire, consisting of 27 items, that assesses sleep disturbance in response to commonly experienced stressful situations. Factor analytic techniques identified a single 9-item factor that was representative of the construct of "stress-related" vulnerability to sleep disturbance. Reliability of the resulting 9-item scale was high (Cronbach's alpha = .83). Individuals with higher scores on this scale, the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST; median split), had a lower sleep efficiency (P = .001), as well as an increased latency to stage 1 sleep (P = .001) and persistent sleep (P = .002) on the first night of nocturnal polysomnography. Moreover, these high-scoring individuals showed increased arousal as evidenced by an elevated sleep latency on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test compared to individuals with low FIRST scores. Importantly, after controlling for current and past insomnia, the differences between individuals scoring high and low on the FIRST in terms of nocturnal sleep and daytime arousal remained significant. Other stages of sleep (stage 2, slow-wave, and rapid eye movement sleep) were not different between the groups. Conclusions These results showing a relationship between FIRST scores and nocturnal polysomnography and Multiple Sleep Latency Test scores have 3 potential implications: (1) the data demonstrate a characteristic that relates to vulnerability to stress-related sleep disturbance as manifested by a first night in the laboratory; (2) the elevated latencies on the Multiple Sleep Latency Test in these individuals, despite significantly disturbed sleep, support the notion of physiologic hyperarousal in these individuals and suggests they may be predisposed to developing chronic primary insomnia; and (3) the vulnerability identified may underlie vulnerability to transient sleep disturbance associated with other sleep-disruptive factors.

Daytime sleepiness and hyperactivity in children with suspected sleep-disordered breathing.

Abstract: Objectives. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is seen less frequently as a presenting complaint in children with sleep-disordered breathing than in adults. Instead, symptoms of hyperactivity are often described. We hypothesized that children with suspected sleep-disordered breathing (S-SDB) were both sleepier and more hyperactive than control subjects. Furthermore, we hypothesized that overnight polysomnographic parameters correlated with sleepiness and hyperactivity. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university-affiliated hospital and a community-based pediatric clinic. A total of 108 patients with S-SDB (mean [standard deviation] age: 7 ± 4 years) and 72 control subjects (8 ± 4 years) were recruited. A modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Conners Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire were administered. Polysomnography was performed in patients with S-SDB. Results. Patients with S-SDB had a higher ESS (8.1 ± 4.9 vs 5.3 ± 3.9) and a higher Conners score (12.8 ± 7.6 vs 9.0 ± 6.2) than control subjects. On the basis of adult criteria, 28% of patients had EDS. There was no difference in the ESS and Conners scores of patients with primary snoring and patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The ESS had weak correlations with polysomnographic parameters. Conclusions. Although the ESS score of children with S-SDB was within the normal range for adults, these children were sleepier and more hyperactive than control subjects. However, these data should be confirmed by a population-based study.

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea causes intermittent elevation of systemic blood pressure (BP) during sleep. To determine whether obstructive apnea in children has a tonic effect on diurnal BP, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was obtained from 60 children with mean age of 10.8 ± 3.5 years. Thirty-nine children had obstructive apnea and 21 had primary snoring. Children with obstructive apnea had significantly greater mean BP variability during wakefulness and sleep, a higher night-to-day systolic BP, and a smaller nocturnal dipping of mean BP. Variability of mean arterial pressure during wakefulness was predicted by the desaturation, body mass, and arousal indices, whereas variability during sleep was predicted by apnea–hypopnea and body mass indices. Nocturnal BP dipping was predicted by the desaturation index. There were no significant differences in systolic, diastolic, or mean arterial BP during sleep between the groups. Diastolic BP during wakefulness was significantly different between the groups and correl...

Sleep problems in children with autism.

Abstract: Autism is a developmental disability characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, and the presence of repetitive-ritualistic behaviors. Sleep problems are frequently reported by parents of children with autism with prevalence estimates of 44-83% for sleep disorders in this population. To better understand sleep in autism, we surveyed sleep problems in 210 children with autism using a Likert-based questionnaire for parent report. The most frequently reported sleep problems included difficulty in falling asleep, restless sleep, not falling asleep in own bed, and frequent wakenings. Least frequently reported sleep problems were sleep walking, morning headaches, crying during sleep, apnea, and nightmares. When surveys were divided into mental retardation (MR)/not MR categories, no significant differences were identified in frequencies of reported sleep problems except for waking at night which occurred much more frequently in the MR group. There was also no difference in sleep problems related to age of the child other than nocturnal enuresis. An association was noted between certain medical problems and sleep problems. Vision problems, upper respiratory problems, and runny nose were associated with decreased nighttime sleep. Vision problems, poor appetite, and poor growth were associated with increased nighttime waking. Poor appetite and poor growth were associated with decreased willingness to fall asleep. This study confirms a high prevalence of sleep problems reported by parents of children with autism and points to the need for more systematic research as an initial step in developing treatment strategies.

Internet-based treatment for insomnia: a controlled evaluation.

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of an Internet-based intervention for insomnia. Participants who met criteria for insomnia (N = 109) were randomly assigned to either a cognitive-behavioral self-help treatment or a waiting list control condition. The 5-week intervention mainly consisted of sleep restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive restructuring. Sleep diary data were collected for 2 weeks at baseline and at posttreatment. The dropout rate was 24% (n = 28). Results showed statistically significant improvements in the treatment group on many outcome measures, including total sleep time, total wake time in bed, and sleep efficiency. However, improvements were also found in the control group. Overall, between-groups effect sizes were low, with the exception of the Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep Scale (Cohen's d =.81).

Issues of validity in actigraphic sleep assessment.

Abstract: Objectives The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Sleep Disorders Association has supported the use of actigraphy in the assessment of sleep disorders Pollak et al disagree The objective of this paper is to identify and critically evaluate several theoretic and methodologic issues that are central to these divergent views regarding the valid use of actigraphy for sleep assessment Design Critical review, analysis, and comment Setting N/A Patients/participants N/A Interventions N/A Measurements and results N/A Conclusions (1) Coefficients of the validity of actigraphy exceed those associated with common medical tests and the best psychological tests (2) Reasons why actigraphy should be held to a substantially higher empirical standard than common medical tests and the best psychological tests have yet to be advanced (3) Differences between actigraphy and polysomnography are not random and can be reduced (3a) Sleep onset is a gradual rather than a discrete process Actigraphy keys on an earlier phase of the sleep-onset process than does polysomnography, resulting in systematic rather than random differences (3b) A sleep switch device can be used to substantially increase the accuracy of sleep-onset times (3c) The residual unreliability of polysomnographic data explains a portion of the differences between actigraphy and polysomnography Actigraphy cannot be expected to agree more completely with polysomnography than polysomnography does with itself (4) Complete agreement between actigraphy and polysomnography has been presumed, but achieving such a limit is theoretically impossible Some lower maximum agreement limit should be identified (5) Conclusions that actigraphy is not an accurate sleep-wake indicator and that it is inappropriate to infer sleep from actigraphy data are not supported by the findings Conclusions reached, including caveats, by the Standards of Practice Committee remain supported

Sleep disorders during pregnancy.

Abstract: This paper reviews the topic of sleep disorders in pregnant women. We describe changes in sleep architecture and sleep pattern during pregnancy, discuss the impact of the physical and biochemical changes of pregnancy on sleep in pregnant women and examine whether maternal-fetal outcomes may be adversely affected in women with disordered sleep. The literature on common sleep disorders affecting pregnant women, including insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome, is reviewed and recommendations are made for the management of these disorders during pregnancy.

Incidence of diabetes in middle-aged men is related to sleep disturbances.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE —Sleep deprivation in healthy men has been experimentally found to result in disturbances in glucose metabolism and in sympathovagal imbalance. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sleep disturbances and elevated resting heart rate are associated with increased risk of developing diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —A group of 6,599 initially healthy, nondiabetic men aged 44.5 ± 4.0 years took part in a prospective, population-based study in Malmo, Sweden. The incidence of diabetes during a mean follow-up of 14.8 ± 2.4 years was examined in relation to self-reported difficulties in falling asleep and resting heart rate at baseline. Diabetes was assessed at follow-up in all subjects by questionnaire and in a subgroup of 1,551 men by blood glucose measurement. RESULTS —A total of 615 (9.3%) subjects reported either difficulties in falling asleep or regular use of hypnotics (seen as markers of sleep disturbances), and 158 (2.4%) subjects reported both of these. Altogether, 281 (4.3%) of the men developed diabetes during the follow-up period. Logistic regression models showed difficulties in falling asleep or regular use of hypnotics (odds ratio [OR] 1.52 [95% CI 1.05–2.20]) and resting heart rate (OR per 10 bpm 1.13 [0.99–1.30]) to be associated with development of diabetes when full adjustments were made for baseline age, biological risk factors, lifestyle, family history of diabetes, and social class. CONCLUSIONS —The results suggest that sleep disturbances and, possibly, elevated resting heart rate, in middle-aged men, are associated with an increased risk of diabetes.