Abstract
Determination of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) types is important for treatment decision. There are two different definitions for position and rapid eye movement (REM) related OSAS in literature. One of them provides the criteria that non-supine and/or non-REM apnea hypopnea index (AHI) below 5, the other does not. In our study these two definitions are named as “strict definition” and “loose definition”. This study is designed to identify which definition is more beneficial to use, and the prognostic value of the definitions by comparing demographic and polysomnographic parameters of patient groups composed due to both definitions. This is the first study investigating this issue. Obstructive AHI >5 of all adult patients admitted to our Sleep Disorders Center between September 2012 - October 2014 were included to this retrospective cohort study. 280 (73.7%) of the patients were male, 100 (26.3%) were female, with mean age of 49.9, body mass index (BMI) of 30.4 and neck circumference of 43.2. The patients had mean Epworth sleepiness scale score: 13.5, mean AHI: 32.3, mean arousal index: 27.1, mean peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2): 90.6, and mean minimum SpO2: 78.7.In groups with OSAS aggravated by REM and/or position total AHI, apnea index, hypopnea index, minimum SpO2 and desaturation percentage were all found significantly worse than REM and/or position dependent groups (p<0.05). In the light of our current findings, when evaluated with their effect on disease severity and complications, it is useful to predict prognosis of OSAS when “strict definition”s are used for position and/or REM related cases.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016