High prevalence of severe sleep cycle disruption in de novo acromegaly and underdiagnosis by common clinical screening tools: A prospective, observational, cross‐sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Our study provides strong support for clinical guidelines that recommend screening for sleep apnoea syndrome in patients with newly-diagnosed acromegaly. Importantly, however, it highlights shortcomings in commonly recommended screening tools (questionnaires, desaturation index) and demonstrates the added value of polysomnography to allow timely detection of obstructive sleep apnoea and associated sleep cycle disruption.
Study context
- Population
- Newly-diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with acromegaly; 22 males, 18 females; mean age 54 years (range 23–78)
- Participants
- 40 participants
- Outcome
- Prevalence and severity of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) by polysomnography
Methodological detailsprospective, observational
- Prospective
- Observational
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) by apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI)
79%
Mild OSA
n = 12
Moderate OSA
n = 5
Severe OSA
n = 14
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Screening tools in patients with OSA by AHI
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) positive
- 35% [n = 11]
- Desaturation index (DI) positive
- 71%
- DI mild
- n = 11
- DI moderate
- n = 6
- DI severe
- n = 5
- ESS and DI markedly underestimated OSA prevalence/extent
Sleep architecture
- Increased arousal
- 78%
- Normal total time asleep
- 82%
- Longer in stage 1 sleep
- 14 patients
- Reduced stage 2
- n = 18
- Reduced slow wave sleep
- n = 24
- Reduced REM sleep
- n = 32
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →