Sleep medicine
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Uninterrupted sleep is of vital importance for restoration and regaining health. In intensive care units (ICUs) where recovering and healing is crucial, patients' sleep often is fragmented and disturbed due to noise from activities from oneself, other patients, and alarms. The aim of our study was to explore if sleep could be improved by modifying the sound environment in a way that is practically feasible in ICUs. ⋯ Noise in ICUs impairs sleep and the reduction of maximal A-weighted levels from 64 to 56dB is not enough to have a clear improved effect on sleep quality.
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We aimed to investigate if different childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subtypes, namely rapid eye movement (REM)-related, nonrapid eye movement (NREM)-related and stage-independent OSA would exert different effects on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). ⋯ Children with obstructive events mainly in REM sleep may have less cardiovascular complications than those with stage-independent OSA.
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We aimed to describe the sensory topography of restless legs syndrome (RLS) sensory symptoms and to identify the relationship between topography and clinical variables. ⋯ RLS sensory symptoms typically were symmetrically located in the lower extremities. LE-PLUS or an asymmetric distribution more often occurred in patients with more severe RLS symptoms or late-onset RLS.
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Because there is only one study to our knowledge on the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in sub-Saharan Africa and RLS is more common in patients with some pain syndromes, we aimed to determine the prevalence of RLS in a population with chronic pain in Maputo, Mozambique. ⋯ Despite the secondary causes involved, we believe that it is relevant to report the RLS prevalence detected in our study.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to an increased risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease. However, studies investigating the relationship between nonapnea sleep disorders (NSD) and the risk for subsequent ischemic stroke are scant. The objective of our study was to assess the association between NSD and the risk for acute ischemic stroke among patients in Taiwan. ⋯ Our nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study provides evidence that patients with NSD were at increased risk for developing ischemic stroke compared to patients without diagnosed sleep disorder, with men and the elderly being at greatest risk.