• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.4-8
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• 2022

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is defined as the triad of obesity (body mass index, [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m²), daytime hypercapnia (PaCO2 ≥ 45 mm Hg), and sleep breathing disorder, after excluding other causes for hypoventilation. As the obese population increases worldwide, the prevalence of OHS is also on the rise. Patients with OHS have poor quality of life, high risk of frequent hospitalization and increased cardiopulmonary mortality. However, most patients with OHS remain undiagnosed and untreated. The diagnosis typically occurs during the 5th and 6th decades of life and frequently first diagnosed in emergency rooms as a result of acute-on-chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Due to the high mortality rate in patients with OHS who do not receive treatment or have developed respiratory failure, early recognition and effective treatment is essential for improving outcomes. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy including continuous PAP (CPAP) or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is the primary management option for OHS. Changes in lifestyle, rehabilitation program, weight loss and bariatric surgery should be also considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2000

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects systemic blood pressure and cardiac function. The development of cardiovascular dysfunction including the changes of systemic blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, suggests that recurrent hypoxia and arousals from sleep may increase a sympathetic nervous system activity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been found to be an effective treatment of OSAS. However, only a few studies have investigated the cardiovascular and sympathetic effects of CPAP therapy. We evaluated influences of nasal CPAP therapy on the cardiovascular system and the sympathetic activity in patients with OSAS. Methods : Thirteen patients with OSAS underwent CPAP therapy and were monitored using polysomnography, blood pressure, heart rate, presence of arrhythmia and the concentration of plasma catecholamines, before and with CPAP therapy. Results: The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significant1y decreased (p<0.01) and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation level was elevated significantly after applying CPAP (p<0.01). Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease after CPAP but without statistical significance. Heart rates during sleep were not significantly different after CPAP. However, the frequency and number of types of arrhythmia decreased and sinus bradytachyarrhythmia disappeared after CPAP. Although there was no significant difference in the level of plasma epinephrine concentration, plasma norepinephrine concentration significantly decreased after CPAP (p<0.05). Conclusion : CPAP therapy decreased the apnea-hypopnea index, hypoxic episodes and plasma norepinephrine concentration. In addition, it decreased the incidence of arrhythmia and tended to decrease the systemic blood pressure. These results indicate that CPAP may play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with OSAS.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2011

Objective: OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) is a common disorder and its consequences are often serious. It is important to detect the disorder early in the course for proper treatment. This study is to grasp the snoring clinic visitors' knowledge level of OSAS. Method: One hundred and seventy-nine visitors at the of snoring clinic of Seoul National University Hospital were surveyed by questionnaire about reasons of visit and knowledge of treatment methods of snoring and OSAS, diagnostic method, OSAS-related symptoms, and complications. Results: Most of the respondents (89.4%) "have already heard about OSAS" and the major sources of information was the mass media (58.1%) such as television and radio. More than half (60.3%) were aware that snoring is closely related to OSAS. More than half (59.8%) recognized that a nocturnal polysomnograpy was necessary for proper diagnosis. Two thirds (67%) of the respondents noted surgery as a treatment for snoring. More than half (55.9%) answered that they would follow the doctor's advice on the treatment choice. Only 12.3% of respondents "have heard about nCPAP". No one chose nCPAP (nasal continuous positive airway pressure) as a treatment for either snoring or OSAS. About one third (34.6%) of the respondents were aware that OSAS is related to hypertension. Only 12.8% noted that OSAS is related to diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Visitors at the snoring clinic were found to have substantially limited knowledge of health risks and proper treatments of OSAS. We suggest that it is crucially important to educate patients and offer easy-to-understand information on snoring and OSAS. We predict that provision of educaiton and information to patients and general public will faciliate the diagnosis and treatment of snoring and OSAS and reduce the related disorders such as hypertension, stroke, and diabetes mellitus.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.1200-1206
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was conducted for the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), by comparing the early use of non-invasive nasal CPAP with low intermittent mandatory ventilation(low IMV) and endotracheal CPAP in weaning a mechanical ventilator from infants with moderate respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). Methods : Thirty infants in the study group, with moderate RDS from November 2001 to June 2002, were administered surfactants and treated with the mechanical ventilator, and applied the nasal CPAP in weaning. Thirty infants of the control group, from January 1999 to September 2001, were applied low IMV and endoctracheal CPAP in weaning. Results : There were no significant differences in the characteristics, the severity of clinical symptoms, the initial laboratory findings and settings of the mechanical ventilator. After weaning, the study group showed no significant changes in $PaCO_2$. However, the control group showed a slight $CO_2$ retension after one and 12 hours. Twenty eight infants(93.3%) of the study group and 24 infants(80%) of the control group were successfully extubated. The primary cause of failure was apnea. There were no significant differences in the duration of weaning and the mechanical ventilator treatment between the groups. Complications in weaning were related to the fixation of nasal CPAP and the mechanical problems caused by endotracheal tube. Conclusion : Aggressive weaning is possible for moderate RDS, in which the nasal CPAP was used without the low IMV and the endotracheal CPAP process. It had no difficulties. In conclusion, the nasal CPAP is an adequate weaning method for moderate RDS.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 1997

Introduction : Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is shown to common in patients with OSA and may become evident or worsened when treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Whether this is due to im proved sleep continuity. adverse nocturnal body positioning, uncovered by CPAP, or due to the CPAP stimulus is still debat-ed. We hypothesized that the increase in PLM activity following CPAP is associated with more supine-sleeping tendencies when being treated with CPAP. In the present work, we compared differences in the PLMD index (PLMI) and sleeping position of patients with sleep disordered breathing before and after CPAP treatment. Method : We studied 16 patients (mean age 46 yr, 9M, 7F) with OSA (11 patients) or UARS (5 patients) who either had PLMD on initial polysomnogram (baseline PSG) or on nasal CPAP trial (CPAP PSG). All periodic leg movements were scored on anterior tibialis EMG during sleep according to standard criteria (net duration; 0.5-5.0 seconds, intervals; 4-90 seconds. 4 consecutive movements). Paired t-tests compared PLMD index (PLMI), PLMD-related arousal index (PLMD-ArI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and supine sleeping position spent with baseline PSG and CPAP PSG. Results : Ten patients (63%) on baseline PSG and fifteen patients (94%) on CPAP PSG had documented PLMD ($PLMI{\ge}5$) respectively with significant increase on CPAP PSG(p<0.05). Ten patients showed the emergence (6/10 patients) or substantial worsening (4/10 patients) of PLMD during CPAP trial. Mean CPAP pressure was $7.6{\pm}1.8\;cmH_2O$. PLMI tended to increase from baseline PSG to CPAP PSG, and significantly increase when excluding 2 outlier (baseline PSG, $19.0{\pm}25.8/hr$ vs CPAP PSG, $29.9{\pm}12.5/hr$, p<0.1). PLMD-ArI showed no significant change, but a significant decrease was detected when excluding 2 outlier (p<0.1). There was no significant sleeping positional difference (supine vs non-supine) on baseline PSG, but significantly more supine position (supine vs non-supine, p<0.05) on CPAP PSG. There was no significant difference in PLMI during supine-sleeping and nonsupine-sleeping position on both of baseline PSG and CPAP PSG. There was also no significant difference in PLMI during supine-sleeping position between baseline PSG and CPAP PSG. With nasal CPAP, there was a highly significant reduction in the RDI (baseline PSG, $14.1{\pm}21.3/hr$ vs CPAP PSG, $2.7{\pm}3.9/hr$, p<0.05). Conclusion : This preliminary data confirms previous findings that CPAP is a very effective treatment for OSA, and that PLMD is developed or worsened with treatment by CPAP. This data also indicates that supine-sleeping position is more common when being treated with CPAP. However, there was no clear evidence that supine position is the causal factor of increased PLMD with CPAP. It is, however, suggested that the relative movement limitation induced by CPAP treatment could be a contributory factor of PLMD.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.106-109
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• 2004

Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the leading cause of childhood obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in childhood, however, can occur from various causes such as obesity or craniofacial abnormalities. Childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can be accompanied by enuresis, parasomnias and behavior problems. For patients with the symptoms of snoring and apnea, obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected and diagnosed properly. In addition, the evaluation of complications and proper treatment are indispensable. When the cause of childhood obstructive sleep apnea is adenotonsillar hypertrophy, symptoms can be improved by surgical methods. If the cause is other than adenotonsillar hypertrophy, such as obesity, it should be treated with other therapeutic modalities, like nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), weight reduction and modification of life style. This paper reports a case of nCPAP used to manage severe sleep apnea when it was not resolved after adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. Differential diagnosis of narcolepsy in a case with excessive daytime sleepiness and reflections on accompanying enuresis and parasomnia were also described.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.65-76
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• 1996

Natural sleep pattern and its physiology in childhood are much different from those in adulthood. Several aspects of clinical evaluation for sleepiness in childhood are more difficult than in adulthood. These difficulties are due to several factors. First, excessive sleepiness in childhood do not always develop functional impairments. Second, objective test such as MSLT may not be reliable since it is hard to be certain that the child understand instructions. Third, sleepiness in children is often obscured by irritability. paradoxical hyperactivity, or behavioral disturbances. Anseguently, careful clinical evaluation is needed for the sleepy children. Usual causes of sleepiness in children are the disorders that induce insufficient sleep such as sleep apnea syndrome, schedule disorder, underlying medical and psychiatric disorder, and so forth. After excluding such factors, we can diagnose the hypersomnic disorders such as narcolepsy, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and idiopathic central nervous system hypersomnia. Among the variety of those causes of sleepiness, I reviewed the clinical difference of narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in childhood compared with in adulthood. Recognition of the childhood narcolepsy is difficult because even severely sleepy children often do not develop pathognomic cataplexy and associated REM phenomena until much later. Since childhood narcolepsy give srise to many psychological, academical problem. Practicers should be concerned about these aspects. Childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is different from adult obstructive sleep apnea syndrome too. Several aspects such as pathophysiology. clinical feature, diagnostic criteria, complication, management, and prognosis differ from those in the adult syndrome. An important feature of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the variety of severe complications such as behavioral disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular symptoms, developmental delay, and ever death. Fortunately, surgical interventions like adenotosillectomy or UPPP are more effective for Childhood OSA than adult form. CPAP is a "safe, effective, and well-tolerated" treatment modality too. So if early detection and proper management of childhood OSA were done, the severe complication would be prevented or ever cured.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1073-1079
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• 2003

Purpose : Recently there has been a decrease in ventilator care rate and duration of very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) in Fatima Hospital. The aims of this study were to survey the frequency and duration of ventilation in VLBWI and to develop a non-invasive neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) policy. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of 284 newborn of infants less than 1,500 gm admitted to NICU and discharged from January 1998 to December 2001. Patients were intubated or applied continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) via nasal prong immediately after presenting signs of respiratory distress. We analyzed epidemiologic data to study the changes in ventilator care rate, duration and outcome of ventilator care groups. Results : Of 284 newborn infants, 146 required invasive management, such as endotracheal intubation and assisted ventilation. The characteristics, the severity of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings in ventilator care groups at birth showed no significant differences. The annual proportion of infants requiring assisted ventilation decreased according to increasing gestational age. The median duration of ventilation decreased markedly from 6.0 days in 1998 to 2.7 days in 2001. Final complications and outcomes in ventilator care groups showed no significant differences. Conclusion : Our study shows a significant reduction in the invasiveness of the treatment of VLBW infants, which was not associated with an increased mortality or morbidity. A non-invasive strategy for the VLBW infant with minimal to moderate respiratory distress after birth in NICU is better than immediate invasive management. Non-invasive nasal CPAP is a simpler and safer method than invasive assisted ventilation.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.39-50
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• 2017

As a comparative study on the value of design concept between service provider (Developer) and service receiver (Customer) group, the aims of this study was to present a service model focused on Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) based on U-health care and user environment. Double Diamond-based methods led to a case study that conducted jointly by the department of otolaryngology in U hospital, Ulsan. By targeted on Sleep Apnea patients from the stage of diagnosis to CPAP treatment, variety of meaningful experiences have been extracted and classified into several types of customers. In the final analysis of the 13 service scenario models, Kano Satisfaction and Potential Customer Satisfaction Improvement Index (PCSI) were conducted with the customers, yet Score Model and Concept Position were evaluated by the service provider groups who engaged in development services. The results of this study showed that 7 items in the total of 12 items reached a consensus of viewpoint on value between service receiver and service provider, which the attributes of the service model are based on user environment. Whereas the other 5 items showed the divergent viewpoint on value which included the attributes of U-healthcare service model.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 1997

The data collected to date indicate that sleep-related breathing disorders, including sleep-disordered breathing(sleep apnea) and underlying respiratory system diseases, are one of the important risk factors for cardiovascular dysfunction. Sleep-disordered breathing(sleep apnea) is now recognized as one of the leading causes of systemic hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and stroke. Sleep may exert a profound effect on breathing in patients with underlying respiratory system disease including bronchopumonary diseases, chest wall abnormalities, central alveolar hypoventilation syndromes or respiratory neuromuscular disorders. Chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia in these patients may accelerate the development of long term cardiovascular complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart failure(cor pulmonale). Several recent studies reported that sleep-related breathing disorders are associated with long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Careful assessment of respiratory and cardiovascular function in these patients is critical. Aggressive and highly effective treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders using tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy(nCPAP), intercurrent oxygen therapy or other interventions can reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular dysfunction and the long-term mortality.