• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2015

Objectives: Whether daytime sleepiness is proportional to the severity of sleep apnea in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is controversial. In this study we investigated how insomnia severity affects the association between daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea severity in OSAS. Methods: The present study included 235 male subjects who were diagnosed with OSAS based on clinical history and nocturnal polysomnography. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted among sleep and mood-related self-reported data, polysomnographic data and demographic data of all subjects. Based on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the subjects were divided into 2 groups; group A (n = 75; $PSQI{\leq}5$) and group B (n = 160; PSQI > 5). Partial correlation analysis was performed between the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and other data in both groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors which affected the ESS in group A. Results: Pearson's correlation analysis showed weak or non-existent correlations between ESS and apnea severity data such as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (r = 0.148, p = 0.023), apnea index (AI) (r = 0.137, p = 0.036), hypopnea index (HI) (r = 0.058, p = 0.377), oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (r = 0.149, p = 0.022) and arousal total index (ATI) (r = 0.129, p = 0.048). Positive correlations between ESS and apnea severity data such as AHI ($r_p=0.313$, p = 0.008), AI ($r_p=0.339$, p = 0.004), ODI ($r_p=0.289$, p = 0.015) and ATI ($r_p=0.256$, p = 0.031) were observed only in group A. Multiple regression analysis showed that AI (t = 2.996, p = 0.004) and BAI (t = 2.721, p = 0.008) were associated with ESS in group A. Conclusion: The correlation between daytime sleepiness and sleep apnea severity was shown only in group A. This result suggests that associations between daytime sleepiness in OSAS and sleep apnea severity will become prominent when controlling for insomnia-related variables.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 2006

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome disrupts normal sleep. However, there were few studies to evaluate the asymmetric distribution, the one of the important factors of normal sleep in OSA subjects. We hypothesized that asymmetry would be broken in OSA patients. 49 male subjects with the complaint of heavy snoring were studied with polysomnography. We divided them into two groups based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) fifteen: 13 simple snoring group (SSN, average AHI $5.9{\pm}4.4$) and 32 OSA group (average AHI $47.3{\pm}23.9$). We compared split sleep variables between the first half and the second half of sleep within each group with paired t-test for the evaluation of asymmetry. Changes of sleep architecture of OSA were higher stage 1 sleep% (S1), total arousal index (TAI), AHI, and mean heart rate (HR) and lower stage 2 sleep% (S2), REM sleep%, and mean arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) than SSN subjects. SWS and wake time after sleep onset (WASO) were not different between two groups. In split-night analysis, OSA subjects showed higher S2, slow wave sleep% (SWS), spontaneous arousal index (SAI), and mean HR in the first half, and higher REM sleep% and mean SaO2 in the second half. Those were same pattern as in SSN subjects. Mean apnea duration and longest apnea duration were higher in the second half only in the OSA. No differences of AHI, ODI, WASO, and S1 were found between the first and the second half of sleep in both groups. TAI was higher in the first half only in the SSN. SWS and WASO seemed to be influenced sensitively by simple snoring as well as OSA. Unlike our hypothesis, asymmetric distributions of major sleep architecture variables were preserved in OSA group. Losing asymmetry of TAI might be related to pathophysiology of OSA. We need more studies that include large number of subjects in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.153-168
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• 1998

Background: The existing data indicate that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome contributes to the development of cardiovascular dysfunction such as systemic hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias, and the cardiovascular dysfunction has a major effect on high long-term mortality rate in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients. To a large extent the various studies have helped to clarify the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea, but many basic questions still remain unanswered. Methods: In this study, the influence of obstructive sleep apnea on systemic blood pressure, cardiac rhythm and urinary catecholamines concentration was evaluated. Over-night polysomnography, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and ECG monitoring, and measurement of urinary catecholamines, norepinephrine (UNE) and epinephrine (UEP), during waking and sleep were undertaken in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients group (OSAS, n=29) and control group (Control, n=25). Results: 1) In OSAS and Control, UNE and UEP concentrations during sleep were significantly lower than during waking (P<0.01). In UNE concentrations during sleep, OSAS showed higher levels compare to Control (P<0.05). 2) In OSAS, there was a increasing tendency of the number of non-dipper of nocturnal blood pressure compare to Control (P=0.089). 3) In both group (n=54), mean systolic blood pressure during waking and sleep showed significant correlation with polysomnographic data including apnea index (AI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), arterial oxygen saturation nadir ($SaO_2$ nadir) and degree of oxygen desaturation (DOD). And UNE concentrations during sleep were correlated with AI, AHI, $SaO_2$ nadir, DOD and mean diastolic blood pressure during sleep. 4) In OSAS with AI>20 (n==14), there was a significant difference of heart rates before, during and after apneic events (P<0.01), and these changes of heart rates were correlated with the duration of apnea (P<0.01). The difference of heart rates between apneic and postapneic period (${\Delta}HR$) was significantly correlated with the difference of arterial oxygen saturation between before and after apneic event (${\Delta}SaO_2$) (r=0.223, P<0.001). 5) There was no significant difference in the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias between OSAS and Control In Control, the incidence of ventricular ectopy during sleep was significantly lower than during waking. But in OSAS, there was no difference between during waking and sleep. Conclusion : These results suggested that recurrent hypoxia and arousals from sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may increase sympathetic nervous system activity, and recurrent hypoxia and increased sympathetic nervous system activity could contribute to the development of cardiovascular dysfunction including the changes of systemic blood pressure and cardiac function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 1995

Background: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS), there are several factors increasing upper airway resistance and there is a predisposition to compromised respiratory function during waking and sleep related to constitutional factors including a tendency to obesity. Several recent studies have suggested a possible relationship between sleep apnea(SA) and systemic hypertension. But the possible pathophysiologic link between SA and hypertension is still unclear. In this study, we have examined the relationship among age, body mass index(BMI), pulmonary function parameters and polysomnographic data in patients with OSAS. And also we tried to know the difference among these parameters between hypertensive OSAS and normotensive OSAS patients. Methods: Patients underwent a full night of polysomnography and measured pulmonary function during waking. OSAS was diagnosed if patients had more than 5 apneas per hour(apnea index, AI). A careful history of previously known or present hypertension was obtained from each patient, and patients with systolic blood pressure $\geq$ 160mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure $\geq$ 95mmHg were classified as hypertensives. Results: The noctural nadir of arterial oxygen saturation($SaO_2$ nadir) was negatively related to AI and respiratory disturbance index(RDI), and the degree of noctural oxygen desaturation(DOD) was positively related to AI and RDI. BMI contributed to AI, RDI, $SaO_2$ nadir and DOD values. And also BMI contributed to $FEV_1,\;FEV_1/FVC$ and DLco values. There was a correlation between airway resistance(Raw) and AI, and there was a inverse correlation between DLco and DOD. But there was no difference among these parameters between hypertensive OSAS and normotensive OSAS patients. Conclusion: The obesity contributed to the compromised respiratory function and the severity of OSAS. AI and RDI were important factors in the severity of hypoxia during sleep. The measurement of pulmonary function parameters including Raw and DLco may be helpful in the prediction and assessment of OSAS patients. But we could not find clear difference between hypertensive and normotensive OSAS patients.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2012

Objectives: The percentage of positional sleep apnea in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) varies in different reports from 9% to 60%. If there is a positional dependency in patients with OSA, positional therapy alone could be successful in treating about 50% of all OSA cases. The aim of this report is to compare anthropomorphic and polysomnographic data between the positional sleep apnea group and non-positional sleep apnea group with OSA whose conditions were diagnosed in our sleep clinic. Methods: This is a retrospective study of anthropomorphic and polysomnographic data of patients with OSA who was performed a nocturnal polysomnography. Positional sleep apnea was defined as having a supine apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of twice or more compared to the AHI in the non-supine position. The patients were divided in the positional sleep apnea group and the non-positional sleep apnea group. Results: In 101 patients with OSA, 81 were male, and the mean age was $49.2{\pm}11.9$ years. Seventy-six (75.2%) were diagnosed as the positional sleep apnea. Waist to hip ratio and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in non-positional sleep apnea group. The frequency of severe OSA was significantly higher in this group. In the positional sleep apnea group, nocturnal sleep quality was better preserved, and consequently these patients were less sleepy during daytime. AHI was significantly lower and minimal arterial oxygen saturation during sleep was significantly higher in this group. Conclusion: The percentage of positional sleep apnea in OSA was 75.2%. AHI, BMI, and waist to hip ratio were lower in the positional sleep apnea group. These patients have less severe breathing abnormalities than the non-positional sleep apnea group in polysomnography.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.119-123
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• 2019

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder with no breathing symptoms due to repetitive upper airway resistance. OSA is a disease that can have significant effects on the cerebral cardiovascular system. Active treatment is needed to prevent these complications. The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the standard therapy of OSA, has comparative therapeutic effects. On the other hand, there is no comparison report of the polysomnography (PSG) results before and after CPAP therapy without using a mask. This paper reports a patient who was diagnosed as OSA and used CPAP every night for more than 2 years. The patient showed a decrease in the apnea-hypopnea index from 64.7/h to 12.9/h. In addition, other sleep-related indicators improved significantly. The daily use of CPAP as a treatment for OSA for more than 2 years may improve the PSG results. Constant follow up of PSG will be needed to adjust the appropriate CPAP pressure to patients because there might be a change in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index and other sleep-related indicators for constant CPAP users for at least 2 years.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.956-963
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• 2000

Backgrounds : Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSA) can divided into two groups, positional(PP) and non-positional(NPP) obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, according to the body position while sleeping. In this study, we evaluated the differences of anthropometric data and polysomnographic recordings between the two types of sleep apnea syndrome. Materials : Fifty patients with OSA were divided two groups by Cartwright's criteria. The supine respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was at least two times higher than the lateral RDI in the PP group, and the supine RDI was less than twice the lateral RDI in the NPP group. This patients underwent standardized polysomnographic recordings. The anthropometric data and polysomnographic data were analyzed, statistically. Results : Of all 50 patients, 30% were found to be positional OSA. BMI was significantly higher in the PP group(p<0.05). Total sleep time was significantly longer in the PP group (350.6$\pm$28.2min, 333.3$\pm$46.0min, (p<0.05). Sleep efficiency was high in the PP group(89.6$\pm$6.4%, 85.6$\pm$9.9%, p<0.05). Deep sleep was significantly higher and light sleep was lower in the PP group than in the NPP group but no difference was observed in REM sleep between the two groups. Apnea index(AI) and RDI were significantly lower( 17.0$\pm$10.6, 28.5$\pm$13.3, p<0.05) and mean arterial oxygen saturation was higher in the PP group(92.7$\pm$1.8%. p<0.05) than in the NPP group. Conclusion : Body position during sleep has a profound effect on the frequency and severity of breathing abnormalities in OSA patients. A polysomnographic evaluation for suspected OSA patients must include monitoring of the body position. Breathing function in OSA patients can be improved by controlling their obesity and through postural therapy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH). Patients were classified into four groups based on their severity of polysomnographic data: the snoring group (n=108)-characterized by Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI<5); the mild OSA group (n=186)-AHI $5{\leq}AHI$<15; the moderate OSA group (n=179)- AHI $15{\leq}AHI$<30; and the severe OSA group (n=233)-$AHI{\geq}30$. On the same night of polysomnography (PSG), BP levels were measured before sleeping (bedtime BP) and immediately after waking up on the following morning (morning BP). EDS was recognized as ESS (epworth sleepiness scale)${\geq}9$. The differences and correlations between BP and PSG parameters in the EDS and non-EDS groups of OSAH patients were analyzed. MAP was positively correlated with BMI, AHI, and total arousal (r=0.099, r=0.142, r=0.135, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01), while negatively correlated with mean $SaO_2$ (r=-0.258, p<0.01). The EDS group had overall younger population ($47.2{\pm}11.3$ vs $50.3{\pm}11.4$, p=0.023), higher DBP (both bedtime and morning, $83.1{\pm}9.7$ vs $81.4{\pm}8.8$ and $86.4{\pm}9.2$ vs $83.6{\pm}9.7$)(p=0.031, p=0.047), and higher SBP (both bedtime and morning, $126.7{\pm}11.2$ vs $123.4{\pm}12.4$, $128.9{\pm}12.4$ vs $125.3{\pm}12.9$)(p=0.021, p=0.021) than compared with the non-EDS group. In hypertensive OSAH patients, patients with EDS were also younger and had higher total arousal number, as well as higher morning and bedtime DBP and SBP than compared with the non-EDS group (p<0.005, p=0.008, p<0.001 and p<0.001). EDS in OSAHS patients is a special phenotype characterized by younger age, higher DBP, more severe desaturation, and hypertension.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.106-117
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• 2017

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder that is characterized by repetitive collapse or partial collapse of the upper airway during sleep in spite of ongoing effort to breathe. It is believed that OSA is usually worsened in REM sleep, because muscle tone is suppressed during REM sleep. However, many cases showed a higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) during NREM sleep than during REM sleep. We aimed here to determine the characteristics of REM sleep-dependent OSA (REM-OSA) and NREM sleep-dependent OSA (NREM-OSA). Methods: Five hundred sixty polysomnographically confirmed adult OSA subjects were studied retrospectively. All patients were classified into 3 groups based on the ratio between REM-AHI and NREM-AHI. REM-OSA was defined as REM-AHI/NREM-AHI > 2, NREM-OSA as NREM-AHI/REM-AHI > 2, and the rest as sleep stage-independent OSA (IND-OSA). In addition to polysomnography, questionnaires related to subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and emotion were completed. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA were performed. Results: There was no age difference among subgroups. The REM-OSA group was comprised of large proportions of mild OSA and female OSA patients. These patients experienced poor sleep and more negative emotions than other two groups. The AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were lowest in REM-OSA. Sleep efficiency and N3 percentage of REM-OSA were higher than in NREM-OSA. The percentage of patients who slept in a supine position was higher in REM-OSA than other subgroups. IND-OSA showed higher BMI and larger neck circumference and abdominal circumference than REM-OSA. The patients with IND-OSA experienced more sleepiness than the other groups. AHI and ODI were highest in IND-OSA. NREM-OSA presented the shortest total sleep time and the lowest sleep efficiency. NREM-OSA showed shorter sleep latency and REM latency and higher percentage of N1 than those of REM-OSA and the highest proportion of those who slept in a lateral position than other subgroups. NREM-OSA revealed the highest composite score on the Horne and ${\ddot{O}}stberg$ questionnaire. With increased AHI severity, the numbers of apnea and hypopnea events during REM sleep decreased, and the numbers of apnea and hypopnea events during NREM sleep increased. The results of ANCOVA after controlling age, sex, BMI, NC, AC, and AHI showed the lowest sleep efficiency, the highest AHI in the supine position, and the highest percentage of waking after sleep onset in NREM-OSA. Conclusion: REM-OSA was associated with the mild form of OSA, female sex, and negative emotions. IND-OSA was associated with the severe form of OSA. NREM-OSA was most closely related to position and showed the lowest sleep efficiency. Sleep stage-dependent characteristics could provide better understanding of OSA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2004

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea is a contributory factor of hypertension, arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the pathophysiology underlying this relationship is unclear. Recent reports have shown that the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) are involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and some reports state that increased levels of these cytokines are found in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In this study, the levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF were measured in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in order to determine if obstructive sleep apnea is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Methods : Thirty-seven patients were chosen amongst a population who visited the Sleep Disorders Clinic of St. Paul's Hospital in Seoul, Korea for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and who had subsequently undergone an overnight polysomnography at the clinic. The sera from these patients were retrieved after an overnight polysomnography session and the samples were kept at $-70^{\circ}C$. The cytokine levels were determined with ELISA and the relationships between the serum levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF along with polysomnography parameters were analyzed. Results : No statistically significant correlation was observed between the sICAM-1 levels and the apnea-hypopnea index(r=0.27, P>0.05). Positive correlations were found between the apnea-hypopnea index and serum VEGF levels (r=0.50, P<0.01), the apnea index and the serum sICAM-1 levels (r=0.31, P<0.01), and the apnea index and the serum VEGF levels (r=0.45, P<0.01). Conclusions : Obstructive apnea or hypopnea leads to an increase in the sICAM-1 and VEGF levels. Such an increase in the cytokine levels most likely leads to the higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.