Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin enacarbil in subjects with restless legs syndrome.
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin enacarbil (GEn) 1200 mg or 600 mg compared with placebo in subjects with moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). ⋯ GEn 1200 mg and 600 mg significantly improve RLS symptoms and sleep disturbance compared with placebo and are generally well tolerated.
-
One of the most important caveats of ambulatory devices is the inability to record and stage sleep. We assessed an algorithm determining 4 different stages: wake, light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep using signals derived from the portable monitor Watch-PAT100 (PAT recorder). ⋯ Analysis of autonomic signals from the PAT recorder can detect sleep stages with moderate agreement to more standard techniques in normal subjects and OSA patients. This novel algorithm may provide insights on sleep and sleep architecture when applying the PAT recorder for OSA diagnosis.
-
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance. The role of fat distribution in OSA pathogenesis has not been established in children. The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between fat distribution, OSA, and insulin resistance in an unselected population of obese children. ⋯ Visceral fat distribution is independently predictive of OSA severity in obese children.
-
To assess the effectiveness of CPAP treatment in improving 90-minute driving simulator performance in severe OSA patients compared to age/gender matched controls. ⋯ While driving simulator performance improved after ∼3 months of CPAP treatment with high adherence in patients with severe OSA, performance remained impaired compared to control subjects. These results add to the growing body of evidence that some neurobehavioral deficits in patients with severe OSA are not fully reversed by treatment. Further studies are needed to assess causes of residual driving simulator impairment and to determine whether this is associated with persistent elevated real-life accident risk.
-
Commercial motor vehicle drivers are at an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Review Board has recommended that commercial motor vehicle drivers undergo testing for OSA if they have a positive Berlin Questionnaire or a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2). We developed an online screening tool based on the Berlin Questionnaire for anonymous use by commercial drivers to assess their risk of OSA prior to their required FMCSA physicals. ⋯ Some commercial drivers willingly assess their OSA risk anonymously online, and a majority of those who do so are obese, have positive Berlin screening questionnaires, and would be required to undergo polysomnography if recommendations made to the FMCSA became regulation. In contrast to reported behavior during actual Commercial Driver Medical Examinations physicals, some commercial drivers will report OSA symptoms if it is "safe" to do so. Sleep health professionals need expedient, non-punitive methods to keep commercial motor vehicle drivers healthy and driving and to raise drivers' awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and unhealthy lifestyles.