TY - JOUR T1 - Is adult sleep apnea seasonal? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P4916 AU - Neil M. Skjodt AU - Ronald S. Platt Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4916.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND: Multiple authors have shown paediatric sleep apnoea is seasonal reflecting respiratory infections. Other authors have speculated from animal data that obesity may reflect seasonal changes in leptin metabolism.AIMS: To determine seasonality, if any, in sleep polygraphy referral rates, body mass index, neck circumference, clinical risk of sleep apnea, perceived sleepiness, and sleep apnea severity in adult subjects.METHODS: A convenience sample of 1000+ adults referred for screening sleep polygraphy (www.sagatech.ca) were categorized by month of referral, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, pre-test probability of sleep apnoea, Epworth score, and estimated sleep apnoea severity. Visual trends in monthly variation were confirmed if monthly variables were outside the sample interquartile range.RESULTS: Polygraphy referrals were triphasic with March, June, and September peaks. Synchronous March to April and September to October increases in BMI (1.5 to 2 kg/m2) and Epworth score (1 to 1.5 points corresponding to the known clinically significant difference) occurred without seasonal variations in neck circumference, pre-test risk of sleep apnoea, or polygraphy-estimated respiratory disturbance index.CONCLUSIONS: Synchronous spring-fall biphasic peaks in obesity and sleepiness occurred without seasonal variation in sleep apnoea risk or severity in a large adult sample. We will expand our analysis to a larger sample (20 000+) and other adult samples to confirm seasonal obesity and sleepiness.FUNDING: RCPSC and MITACS. ER -