PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - W. Cassel
AU  - S. Canisius
AU  - H.F. Becker
AU  - S. Leistner
AU  - T. Ploch
AU  - A. Jerrentrup
AU  - C. Vogelmeier
AU  - U. Koehler
AU  - J. Heitmann
TI  - A Prospective Polysomnographic Study on the Evolution of Complex Sleep Apnoea
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00162009
DP  - 2011 Jan 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - erj01620-2009
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/04/04/09031936.00162009.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/04/04/09031936.00162009.full
AB  - Complex sleep apnoea (CompSA) may be observed following continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.In a prospective study, 675 obstructive sleep apnoea patients (mean age 55.9 years, 13.9% female) participated. Full night polysomnography was performed at diagnosis, in the first night with stable CPAP, and after three months CPAP.12.2% (82 of 675 patients) had initial CompSA. 28 of those were lost to follow-up. Only 14 of the remaining 54 patients continued to satisfy criteria for CompSA at follow-up. 16 of 382 patients not initially diagnosed with CompSA exhibited novel CompSA after three months. 30 of 436 patients (6.9%) had follow-up CompSA. Individuals with CompSA were 5 years older and 40% had coronary artery disease. At diagnosis, they had similar sleep quality but more central and mixed apnoeas. In the first CPAP night and at follow-up, sleep quality was impaired (more wakefulness after sleep onset) for patients with CompSA. Sleepiness was improved with CPAP and similar for patients with and without CompSA at diagnosis and follow-up.CompSA is not stable over time and is mainly observed in predisposed patients in nights with impaired sleep quality. It remains unclear to what extent sleep impairment is cause or effect of CompSA.