PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Margarida Aguiar AU - Richard Staats AU - Susana Moreira AU - Fatima Caeiro AU - João Valença AU - Antόnio Bugalho de Almeida TI - Respiratory events related arousals, what are we doing about them? DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p2216 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2216.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2216.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Respiratory events related arousals (RERAs) are a possible reason for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), fatigue and mood disturbances, a complex also known by the upper airway resistance syndrome.Our aim was to detect the importance of this pathology within the overall sleep studies performed at our sleep laboratory.Sleep and cardiorespiratory parameters were evaluated with standard polisonography (PSG) according to the recommendations of AASM. RERAs were identified by a flattening of the airflow registered by nasal cannula and/or a visible increase in thoraco-abdominal effort leading to an arousal.All PSGs recorded during a period of 6 month with an apnea/hypopnea index of less than 15/h were reanalyzed by a single sleep specialist. Patients (pts) demonstrating RERAs in more than 50% of all breathing events were included for further study.Within 303 sleep studies a total of 45 pts were included (14,8%), mean respiratory disturbance index 17,4±10,4/h. 71% were male, with a mean age of 54,6±14,8 years. In 42% of the pts sleep latency and in 63,8% sleep efficiency (mean 78.5±12.6%) were reduced. Decreased slow wave sleep was found in 55%. In 61% a reduced REM sleep was found and all pts had a high arousal index (41,6±18,3/hr).Of the pts followed in our sleep clinic 50% showed an increased epworth scale (12.6±5.5), 56% were hypertensive and in 75% (BMI<30kg/m2). 75% of the pts underwent a positive pressure therapy (ppt) with improvement of symptoms (ESE<8) and good adhesion. Contrary to other data we found a high% of males within the pts with mainly RERAs in PSGs.As a conclusion, pts with RERAs should be evaluated for EDS for therapy with ppt improves daytime symptoms and is reasonably well tolerated.