Ann Acad Med Singap
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Aug 2008
Obstructive sleep apnoea in Singapore: polysomnography data from a tertiary sleep disorders unit.
Comprehensive sleep architecture and respiratory event data in local patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) from overnight polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard for the evaluation of sleep-related breathing disorders, are not widely available. We present 1 year retrospective PSG data with the objective of describing PSG characteristics of patients evaluated for OSA in Singapore. ⋯ OSA is predominant in middle-aged, overweight Singapore males and much less common in females who tend to be older. A majority of patients have moderate to severe OSA, which significantly disturbs normal sleep architecture. The relatively lower BMI compared to Caucasian OSA populations may be related to local craniofacial characteristics and/or higher percentage of body fat for BMI which has been described in Singaporeans.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Aug 2008
ReviewBasic science review on circadian rhythm biology and circadian sleep disorders.
The sleep-wake cycle displays a characteristic 24-hour periodicity, providing an opportunity to dissect the endogenous circadian clock through the study of aberrant behaviour. This article surveys the properties of circadian clocks, with emphasis on mammals. ⋯ A review of human circadian rhythm sleep disorders follows, including recent discoveries of their genetic basis. The article concludes with a discussion of future approaches to the study of human circadian biology and sleep-wake behaviour.