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Recent studies indicate that ambient temperature may modulate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity. However, study results are contradictory warranting more investigation in this field. We analysed 19,293 patients of the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort with restriction to the three predominant climate zones according to the Koppen-Geiger climate classification: Cfb (warm temperature, fully humid, warm summer), Csa (warm temperature, summer dry, hot summer), and Dfb (snow, fully humid, warm summer). Average outside temperature values were obtained and several hierarchical regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of temperature on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), time of oxygen saturation, Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal; European Union; ResMed Foundation; Philips Respironics Foundation; European Respiratory Society (ERS), RS received financial support by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal. We would like to thank the members of the Pneumology Department of the University Hospital Lisbon, in particular to Andreia Colaco (RN), Claudia Pereira (RN), Dina Fernandes (RN), and Cristina Barbara (MD, Professor) for their support. The ESADA network was founded during the COST action B26 supported by the European Union and is one of the Clinical Research Collaborations (CRC) funded by the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Unrestricted seeding grants from the ResMed Foundation and the Philips Respironics Foundation for establishment of the database in 2007 and 2011 are gratefully acknowledged. Non--financial support was provided by the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in terms of logistics for communication, meetings, and data presentations for the ESADA collaborators.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by high cardiovascular risk, which is further amplified during acute COPD exacerbations (AECOPD). Endothelial dysfunction has been previously suggested as one of the potential pathogenetic mechanisms. In order to study the effects of AECOPD on endothelial function assessed by available functional methods, we performed a literature search involving Pubmed and Scopus databases. Eligible studies were those that included adult patients with COPD and evaluated endothelial damage

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to adversely affect the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). The public healthcare system in Greece was already facing serious challenges at the outset of the outbreak following years of austerity and an escalating refugee crisis. This multi-center, cross-sectional study aims to assess the levels and associated risk factors of anxiety, depression, traumatic stress and burnout of frontline staff in Greece. A total of 464 self-selected HCWs in six reference hospitals completed a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic and work-related information and validated psychometric scales. The proportion of HCWs with symptoms of moderate/severe depression, anxiety and traumatic stress were 30%, 25% and 33%, respectively. Burnout levels were particularly high with 65% of respondents scoring moderate/severe in emotional exhaustion, 92% severe in depersonalization and 51% low/moderate in personal accomplishment. Predictive factors of adverse psychological outcomes included fear, perceived stress, risk of infection, lack of protective equipment and low social support. The psychological burden associated with COVID-19 in healthcare professionals in Greece is considerable, with more than half experiencing at least mild mental health difficulties. Findings signal the need for immediate organizational and individually tailored interventions to enhance resilience and support wellbeing under pandemic conditions.

Spirometry, respiratory muscles pressures, peak cough flow, and arterial (or capillary) blood gases are the most commonly used pulmonary function tests for the assessment of patients with neuromuscular disorders. These tests can be used for disease monitoring and patient prognostication, as well as for decision-making regarding the initiation of ventilatory support. However, the use of daytime pulmonary function tests as screening tools for the prediction of sleep hypoventilation cannot be recommended in patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been established in the last decades as an alternative to invasive mechanical ventilation, with better results in many cases. This chapter analyses the effects of NIV in diaphragmatic function and pulmonary function tests by investigating the action mechanisms of NIV in diseases that cause diaphragmatic dysfunction or compromise pulmonary function and deteriorate pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Background: The impact of removing the upper airway lymphoid tissue and in particular, tonsillectomy, in adults with OSA has not been demonstrated in large populations. Aims: To compare the severity of OSA and the prevalence of cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory co-morbidities between patients with OSA who had undergone previous tonsillectomy and those who had not. Methods: The 19,711 participants in this study came from the European sleep apnea database (ESADA) which comprises data from unselected adult patients aged 18–80 years with a history of symptoms suggestive of OSA referred to sleep centers throughout Europe. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of sex ratio and age (146 patients with previous tonsillectomy vs. 19565 patients without). Patients who had undergone tonsillectomy had a lower body mass index (29.3 ± 5.2 kg/m2 vs 32.2 ± 6.6 kg/m2, p < 0.001), lower subjective sleep latency (17.1 ± 17.8 min vs 25.5 ± 30.4 min, p = 0.001), lower ODI (15.7 ± 18.3 events/hour vs 30.7 ± 26.1 events/hour, p < 0.001), and SpO2, European Respiratory Society, ERS, The ESADA network has previously received support from the European Union COST action B26 and the European Respiratory Society. We gratefully acknowledge unrestricted seeding grants from ResMed Inc and Philips Respironics Inc. for establishment of the organisation and the database. Excellent technical assistance in terms of centre monitoring and database maintenance was provided by Ann-Christin Lundquist, RN and Jeanette Norum, RN.

Background and Purpose: An accurate determination of the cardioembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is crucial to prevent consequences like stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a known risk factor for both AF and stroke. We aim to explore a possible association between OSA and an increased cardioembolic risk in patients with AF. Methods: We assessed data from the ESADA (European Sleep Apnea Database) cohort where patients with known AF and OSA were included. Parameters of OSA severity and related hypoxia like lowest Sp o 2 and 4% oxygen desaturation index were analyzed. Patients were stratified according to their cardioembolic risk estimated with the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Results: From the initial cohort of 14 646 patients, a final set of 363 patients were included in the analysis. Indices of hypoxia during sleep were associated with increased CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score (4% oxygen desaturation index 17.9 versus 29.6 versus 30.5 events/hour and the lowest Sp o 2 81.2 versus 77.8 versus 77.5% for low, moderate, and high cardioembolic risk, respectively, P Conclusions: These results support the potential role of OSA-related hypoxia in the risk for cardioembolic complications such as stroke in patients with AF.

Introduction: Normative values for mean overnight oxygen saturation during sleep in apnoea patients stratified for age, BMI, and sleep apnoea severity are lacking. Aim: To establish reference intervals for overnight mean saturation in a large sleep apnoea patient cohort. Methods: Mean overnight oxygen saturation was analysed in adult patients (n=23,220) from the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA, 30 sleep centres, 18 European countries). Data were classified according to age, gender, BMI ( Results: Mean overnight saturation was 93.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 92.9 to 93.1%). Age influenced the adjusted mean nocturnal saturation (93.6%, 93.2%, 92.9%, 92.5%, 92.2% and 91.9% for those aged 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years, respectively) p Conclusion: This study in a large, multi-centric European sleep apnoea cohort defined reference intervals for mean overnight saturation stratified for important confounders like age, BMI, and smoking. Our findings are applicable to the general practice of sleep medicine.

Background and objectives: During the last decade, conventional tobacco smoking is experiencing a decline and new smoking products have been introduced. IQOS (&ldquo, I-Quit-Ordinary-Smoking&rdquo, ) is a type of &ldquo, heat-not-burn&rdquo, (HNB) tobacco product. The impact of IQOS on respiratory health is currently not defined. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the acute effects of IQOS on pulmonary function in non-smokers and current smokers. Materials and Methods: Fifty male healthy non-smokers and current smokers with no known co-morbidity underwent an exhaled CO measurement, oximetry (SaO2%), pulmonary function tests (flows, volumes and diffusion capacity), and a measurement of respiratory resistances with an impulse oscillometry system (IOS) before and immediately after IQOS use. Results: In the whole group of 50 participants, SaO2%, forced expiratory flow at 25% and 50% of vital capacity (FEF25%, FEF50%, respectively), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide/VA (KCO) decreased significantly after IQOS use, whereas exhaled CO and airway resistance (R5 Hz, R10 Hz, r15 Hz, R20 Hz, R25 Hz, R35 Hz) increased. When the groups of smokers and non-smokers were compared, in both groups (all males, 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers), exhaled CO increased and SaO2% decreased after IQOS use (p &lt, 0.001). In the group of non-smokers, PEF (pre 8.22 &plusmn, 2.06 vs. post 7.5 &plusmn, 2.16, p = 0.001) and FEF25% (pre 7.6 &plusmn, 1.89 vs. 7.14 &plusmn, 2.06, p = 0.009) decreased significantly, respiratory resistances R20 Hz (pre 0.34 &plusmn, 0.1 vs. post 0.36 &plusmn, 0.09, p = 0.09) and R25 Hz (pre 0.36 &plusmn, 0.1 vs. post 0.38 &plusmn, 0.09, p = 0.08) increased almost significantly. In smokers, PEF (pre 7.69 &plusmn, 2.26 vs. post 7.12 &plusmn, 2.03, p = 0.007) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) (pre 1.57 &plusmn, 0.76 vs. post1.23 &plusmn, 0.48, p = 0.03) decreased and R35 Hz (pre 0.36 &plusmn, 0.11 vs. post 0.39 &plusmn, 0.11, p = 0.047) increased. The differences in the changes after the use of IQOS did not differ between groups. Conclusions: IQOS had an impact on exhaled CO, SaO2%, and airways function immediately after use. Even though these changes were rather small to be considered of major clinical importance, they should raise concerns regarding the long-term safety of this product. Further research is needed for the short- and long-term effects of IQOS, especially in patients with respiratory disease.

Background: Evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, ...

[No Abstract Available]

Background and aim: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia. The current study examined the effects of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment on lipid status in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA). Methods: The prospective cohort study enrolled 1564 OSA subjects (74% male, mean age 54 ± 11y, body mass index (BMI) 32.7 ± 6.6 kg/m2 and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 40.3 ± 24.4 n/h) undergoing PAP therapy for at least three months (mean 377.6 ± 419.5 days). Baseline and follow-up total cholesterol (TC) from nine centers were analyzed. Repeated measures and logistic regression tests (adjusted for age, sex, weight changes, lipid lowering medication, PAP compliance, and treatment duration) were used to compare changes in TC concentration. Incident risk for a coronary heart disease event (CHD) was used to compute a Framingham CHD risk score (estimated from age, BMI, blood pressure, and TC). Results: Adjusted means of TC decreased from 194.2 mg/dl to 189.3 mg/dl during follow-up (p = 0.019). A clinically significant (10%) reduction of TC at PAP follow-up was observed in 422 patients (27%). Duration of PAP therapy was identified as independent predictor for TC reduction, which implies an approximately 10% risk reduction for incident CHD events (from 26.7% to 24.1% in men and from 11.2% to 10.1% in women, p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: This observational study demonstrates a reduction of TC after long-term PAP treatment. The close association between TC concentration and cardiovascular (CV) mortality suggests that identification and treatment of OSA may have a beneficial effect on overall CV risk due to this mechanism. This possibility needs to be evaluated in prospective randomized studies. © 2020 Elsevier B.V., ResMed Foundation European Respiratory Society, ERS European Respiratory Society, ERS European Respiratory Society, ERS, The ESADA network has received support from the European Union COST action B26 and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) funded Clinical Research Collaboration (CRC). Unrestricted seeding grants from the ResMed Foundation and the Philips Respironics Foundation for establishment of the database in 2007 and 2011 are gratefully acknowledged. The ESADA network has a scientific collaboration with Bayer AG., Nonfinancial support was provided by the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in terms of logistics for communication, meetings and data presentations for the ESADA collaborators., Dr. Verbraecken reports grants and personal fees from ResMed, Bioprojet, Jazz Pharmaceutics; personal fees from Philips, Sanofi, Agfa-Gevaert, grants from AirLiquide; personal fees from Springer, Westfalen Medical, SomnoMed, Vivisol, Total Care, Medidis, Fisher & Paykel, Wave Medical, OSG, Mediq Tefa, NightBalance, Heinen & Löwenstein, AstraZen, Accuramed, Bekaert Deslee Academy and UCB Pharma, outside the submitted work. Dr. Hedner reports grants from ResMed, Philips Respironics, and the European Respiratory Society all related to maintenance of database on behalf of the ESADA group during the conduct of the study. Dr. Grote reports grants from Bayer, Resmed, Respironics/Philips, and from the European Respiratory Society during the conduct of the study; non-financial support and other from Itamar Medical, Resmed, Philips, and Astra Zeneca, outside the submitted work. In addition, Dr. Grote has a patent on sleep apnea therapy licensed. The remaining co-authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

[No Abstract Available]

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The association of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with important clinical outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between mild OSA and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) in the European Sleep Apnea Database cohort. METHODS: In a multicenter sample of 4,732 participants, we analyzed the risk of mild OSA (subclassified into 2 groups: mild(AHI 5

Omalizumab is the first monoclonal antibody that was globally approved as a personalized treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma. This review summarizes the knowledge of almost two decades of use of omalizumab to answer some important everyday clinical practice questions, concerning its efficacy and safety and its association with other asthma-related and drug-related parameters. Evidence suggests that omalizumab improves asthma control and reduces the incidence and frequency of exacerbations in patients with severe allergic asthma. Omalizumab is also effective in those patients in reducing corticosteroid use and healthcare utilization, while it also seems to improve lung function. Several biomarkers have been recognized in predicting its efficacy in its target group of patients, while the optimal duration for evaluating its efficacy is between 16 and 32 weeks.

Background Several tools have been used to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Evaluation of the predictive performance of different questionnaires is essential in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) because the prevalence of OSA in this population is high. The aim of this study was to evaluate different sleep questionnaires to identify T2DM patients with OSA, and to compare the predictive values of these questionnaires with a matched sample of non-diabetic patients. Methods The study was a retrospective study of two patients groups (n = 350 with T2DM, n = 350 without T2DM) visiting a sleep clinic and matched by age, gender, body mass index, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Symptoms of OSA and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang, Berlin questionnaire, and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) scores were compared, and sleep studies were performed. Results Diabetic patients with OSA complained more frequently of nocturia (P = 0.025), morning headaches (P = 0.04), restless sleep (P = 0.002), and leg movements (P = 0.01) than non-diabetic patients with OSA. Most predictive values of the sleep questionnaires did not differ significantly between the two groups; however, the AIS was higher only in T2DM women (P = 0.01). In both groups, the Berlin and STOP-Bang questionnaires had the highest sensitivity. The ESS had the highest specificity in T2DM patients and the STOP and S-B questionnaires had the highest specificity in non-diabetics. Conclusions The predictive performance of the questionnaires was similar in both groups, especially in the case of moderate and severe OSA.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess vitamin D levels in a large cohort of OSA patients and to investigate possible correlations with clinical and polysomnographic parameters. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 685 consecutive patients underwent type 1 polysomnography (PSG) for OSA diagnosis. They were grouped according to apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) as mild, moderate, and severe. Patients with AHI < 5 served as controls. Demographic, PSG data, and serum levels of vitamin D were measured and compared between groups. Results: OSA was diagnosed in 617 of the patients (90%). Of those, 94 (15%) had mild OSA, 150 (24%) moderate OSA, and 373 (61%) severe OSA. The risk of vitamin D deficiency (< 20ng/mL) was observed in 38% of the cohort. OSA patients had lower vitamin D levels compared to controls (23ng/mL vs 26ng/mL, p = 0.006). The lowest levels of vitamin D [mean 21] (p < 0.001 among all groups) and the higher prevalence for vitamin D deficiency (45%) were observed in severe OSA patients. After multiparametric adjustments for age, gender, obesity, and comorbidities, severe OSA showed significant independent associations with the risk of vitamin D deficiency [OR (95% CI) 2.002 (1.049–3.819), p = 0.035]. Conclusions: A large proportion of patients referred for OSA evaluation had vitamin D deficiency, which was independently associated with severe OSA. However, further research is needed in order to determine the role of vitamin D in OSA patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of sex on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related symptoms and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large clinical population of patients. METHODS: A total of 6,716 patients (mean age 52 years, 24% women) had undergone diagnostic polysomnography and completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Athens Insomnia Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. We investigated the predictive value of sex on associated symptoms and prevalent cardiovascular disease, after adjustment for relevant confounding factors including age, obesity, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Most of the patients (90%) had OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 5 events/h), and 66% were obese. Women were older than men and had a higher body mass index; however, men had a thicker neck circumference, a higher waist-to-hip ratio, and increased OSA severity (AHI 36 versus 27 events/h, P < .001). Female sex independently predicted prevalent CVD after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio [95% CI] 1.476 [1.154–1.887], P = .002). Men independently were more likely to report driving problems (3.359 [2.470–4.569], P < .001) and excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS ≥ 16) (1.355 [1.036–1.773], P = .027). Furthermore, female sex was an independent predictive factor for depressive symptoms (2.473 [1.831–3.340], P < .001), frequent awakenings (1.703 [1.323–2.192], P < .001), nocturia (1.727 [1.340–2.226], P < .001) and morning headaches (1.855 [1.488–2.326], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Females referred for sleep studies were more likely to exhibit CVD and less likely to complain of typical OSA symptoms than males in this large clinical patient cohort. CITATION: Bouloukaki I, Mermigkis C, Markakis M, Pataka A, Alexaki I, Ermidou C, Moniaki V, Mauroudi E, Michelakis S, Schiza SE. Cardiovascular effect and symptom profile of obstructive sleep apnea: does sex matter? J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(12):1737–1745.

Background and Objectives The greatest challenge vaccines face is that of acceptance from the general population. Healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) recommendations have significant influence on general public vaccination behavior. The aim of this study was to assess the willingness of HCPs to get vaccinated against COVID-19, two weeks before initiation of vaccinations. Materials and Methods: We conducted an anonymous online survey from 11–15 December 2020 among HCPs by emails delivered from the local medical and nursing stuff associations. Results: The 71.1% of 656 HCPs intended to accept vaccination, 5.9% did not and 23% were still undecided. The acceptance rate was higher in physicians (76.5%) and significantly lower in nurses (48.3%). Most of the responders who intended to accept vaccination were males (p = 0.01), physicians (p = 0.001), older (p = 0.02), married (p = 0.054) with children (p = 0.001), and had treated patients with COVID-19 (p &lt, 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression, the predictors of HCPs willingness to get vaccinated were parenthood (OR = 4.19, p = 0.003), being a physician (OR = 2.79, p = 0.04), and treating confirmed/suspected COVID-19 patients (OR = 2.87, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Low vaccination acceptance rate was found especially in nurses, and as this may have a negative impact in the vaccination compliance of the general public, interventional educational programs to enhance vaccination are crucial.

This is a case description of two patients with bipolar affective disorder, who presented complications, possibly due to underlying, undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), during anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The first patient, just after receiving the second ECT, developed tachypnea with spasm of the upper airways and severe oxygen desaturation He was intubated and transferred to the medical intensive care unit where he was extubated 15 h later. The second patient, just after the eighth ECT, developed tachycardia and severe hypertension. He was transferred to the recovery room where he received oxygen therapy via nasal cannula and amlodipine. Both patients in the diagnostic polysomnographic tests which followed revealed a moderate to high apnea – hypopnea index (AHI) and distortion of sleep architecture. These cases highlight the need to assess for OSAS patients who receive ECT, especially if they exhibit peri-anesthesia complications.

European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress -- SEP 28-OCT 02, 2019 -- Madrid, SPAIN, WOS: 000507372400195, [No abstract available], European Respiratory Soc

Background and objective: The acute effects of e-cigarettes have not been scientifically demonstrated yet. The aim of this study was to assess the acute changes in pulmonary function and airway inflammation in patients with asthma after vaping one e-cigarette. Methods: Twenty-five smokers suffering from stable moderate asthma according to GINA guidelines with no other comorbidities and 25 healthy smokers matched with the baseline characteristics of the asthmatic patients were recruited. PFT, IOS, FeNO and EBC were performed before and after vaping one e-cigarette with nicotine. pH and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, TNF-α, ISO8 and LTB4 were measured in EBC. Results: FFEV1/FVC ratio and PEF were reduced in asthmatic patients after e-cigarette. Z5Hz and R5Hz, R10Hz and R20Hz increased in both groups. FeNO and EBC pH increased by 3.60 ppb (P = 0.001) and 0.15 (P = 0.014) in asthmatic patients after e-cigarette, whereas they decreased in control group by 3.28 ppb (P < 0.001) and 0.12 (P = 0.064), respectively. The concentrations of IL-10, TNF-α and ISO8 in EBC increased in asthmatic patients after e-cigarette and the changes in concentrations of IL-1β and IL-4 differed significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: E-cigarette vaping resulted in acute alteration of both pulmonary function and airway inflammation in stable moderate asthmatic patients.

Bronchial asthma (BA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common respiratory obstructive diseases that may coexist. It would be interesting to study the possible influence of that coexistence on both diseases. Until now, reviews focused mainly on epidemiology. The aim of this study was to review the literature in relation to epidemiology, pathophysiology, consequences, screening of patients, and treatment of the coexistence of OSA and BA. We pooled studies from the PubMed database from 1986 to 2019. OSA prevalence in asthmatics was found to be high, ranging from19% to 60% in non-severe BA, reaching up to 95% in severe asthma. Prevalence was correlated with the duration and severity of BA, and increased dosage of steroids taken orally or by inhalation. This high prevalence of the coexistence of OSA and BA diseases could not be a result of just chance. It seems that this coexistence is based on the pathophysiology of the diseases. In most studies, OSA seems to deteriorate asthma outcomes, and mainly exacerbates them. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment is likely to improve symptoms, the control of the disease, and the quality of life in asthmatics with OSA. However, almost all studies are observational, involving a small number of patients with a short period of follow up. Although treatment guidelines cannot be released, we could recommend periodic screening of asthmatics for OSA for the optimal treatment of both the diseases.

Background: Mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent; however its association with important clinical outcomes like arterial hypertension remains unknown. Aims: To investigate the association between mild OSA and hypertension in the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. Methods: A multicentric sample of 7995 adults from the ESADA cohort with simple snoring or mild OSA at PG or PSG was studied. We compared the predictive value of mild OSA (AHI 5- Results: Arterial hypertension prevalence was 37% in mild OSA (n=1566) compared to 22% in non-apnoeic snorers (n=793, p Conclusion: Our results suppport the hypothesis that mild OSA is an independent risk factor for Hypertension, mainly in the 11-15 AHI range.

Varenicline (VAR) is a drug used for smoking cessation by intervening in nicotinic withdrawal and reward pathways in the brain. VAR administration has been reported to affect sleep. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible changes in sleep architecture by polysomnography (PSG) recordings during VAR treatment (SmokeFreeBrain). Methods: 13 healthy smokers were evaluated with PSG (Embletta MPR-Master) before treatment with VAR while smoking and 20-30 days after VAR administration and smoking cessation for at least 5 days. The PSGs were manually scored according to the AASM criteria and EEG Feature Extraction was also performed. Results: No significant differences were observed in sleep macro architecture (N1, N2, N3, REM, Sleep Efficiency, Sleep Latency, Total Sleep Time) after VAR treatment. After VAR treatment, in the EEG Feature Extraction Analysis a statistically significant reduction (p=0.01) in beta rhythm was observed during N1, a statistically significant increase (p=0.027) in alpha rhythm during the N2 and a statistically significant increase (p=0.027) in beta rhythm (8-12 Hz) during the N3. Conclusion: After VAR treatment, no singnificant alterations were found in sleep macro-architecture; however alterations were found in EEG Feature Extraction analysis.

European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress -- SEP 28-OCT 02, 2019 -- Madrid, SPAIN, Riha, Renata/0000-0001-8983-9985, WOS: 000507372405424, [No abstract available], European Respiratory Soc

European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress -- SEP 28-OCT 02, 2019 -- Madrid, SPAIN, WOS: 000507372400192, [No abstract available], European Respiratory Soc

BACKGROUND: Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality have been reported in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Additionally, sleep disordered breathing (SDB), a well-known cause of disturbed sleep, is highly prevalent in CKD. The majority of studies on sleep quality in CKD were focussed on dialysed patients, were based on subjective reports, and did not consider possible coexistence of SDB.1 Only a small number of studies assessed sleep quality on polysomnographic data in non-dialysed patients with CKD.2 AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate objective sleep quality based on electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings during nocturnal polysomnography in non-dialysed patients with CKD, taking into account coexisting SDB and psychiatric diagnoses. METHODS: The European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA) cohort includes patients studied for suspected obstructive sleep apnea from numerous European sleep centres. From this cohort, 375 non-dialysed CKD patients who had undergone full polysomnography were matched one-by-one with 375 non-CKD patients. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of

Purpose: Diffusion Weighted Imaging is an established diagnostic tool for accurate differential diagnosis between benign and malignant liver lesions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of Histogram Analysis of ADC quantification in determining the histological diagnosis as well as the grade of malignant liver tumours. To our knowledge, there is no study evaluating the role of Histogram Analysis of ADC quantification in determining the histological diagnosis as well as the grade of malignant liver tumours. Methods: During five years, 115 patients with known liver lesions underwent Diffusion Weighted Imaging in 3Tesla MR scanner prior to core needle biopsy. Histogram analyses of ADC in regions of interest were drawn and were correlated with biopsy histological diagnosis and grading. Results: Histogram analysis of ADC values shows that 5th and 30th percentile parameters have statistically significant potency of discrimination between primary and secondary lesions groups (p values 0.0036 and 0.0125 respectively). Skewness of the histogram can help discriminate between good and poor differentiated (p value 0.17). Discrimination between primary malignancy site in metastases failed for the present number of patients in each subgroup. Conclusion: Statistical parameters reflecting the shape of the left side of the ADC histogram can be useful for discriminating between primary and secondary lesions and also between well differentiated versus moderate or poor. For the secondary malignancies, they failed to predict the original site of tumour.

Until few years ago non-specific cytotoxic agents were considered the tip of the arrow as first line treatment for lung cancer. However; age > 75 was considered a major drawback for this kind of therapy. Few exceptions were made by doctors based on the performance status of the patient. The side effects of these agents are still severe for several patients. In the recent years further investigation of the cancer genome has led to targeted therapies. There have been numerous publications regarding novel agents such as; erlotinib, gefitinib and afatinib. In specific populations these agents have demonstrated higher efficiency and this observation is explained by the overexpression of the EGFR pathway in these populations. We suggest that TKIs should administered in the elderly, and with the word elderly we propose the age of 75. The treating medical doctor has to evaluate the performance status of a patient and decide the best treatment in several cases indifferent of the age. TKIs in most studies presented safety and efficiency and of course dose modification should be made when necessary. Comorbidities should be considered in any case especially in this group of patients and the treating physician should act accordingly. OA gold - CA extern

Background: Although interventional management of malignant central airway obstruction (mCAO) is well established, its impact on survival and quality of life (QoL) has not been extensively studied. Aim: We prospectively assessed survival, QoL and dyspnea (using validated EORTC questionnaire) in patients with mCAO 1 day before interventional bronchoscopy, 1 week after and every following month, in comparison to patients who declined this approach. Material/Patients/Methods: 36 patients underwent extensive interventional bronchoscopic management as indicated, whereas 12 declined. All patients received full chemotherapy and radiotherapy as indicated. Patients of the 2 groups were matched for age, comorbidities, type of malignancy and level of obstruction. Follow up time was 8.0±8.7 (range 1-38) months. Results: Mean survival for intervention and control group was 10±9 and 4±3 months respectively (p=0.04). QoL improved significantly in intervention group patients up to the 6th month (p

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma remain a major health burden. Adherence to inhaled therapy is critical in order to optimize treatment effectiveness. Properly designed questionnaires can assess patients' satisfaction with their inhaler devices.A total of 766 patients with COPD, asthma or Asthma-COPD Overlap (ACO) were initially enrolled. During their first visit, patients were classified into three groups (Diskus™, Elpenhaler®, Turbuhaler®). Patients completed the FSI-10 questionnaire on Day 0 and Day 60. Test-retest reliability was evaluated.A total of 705 patients completed the study. FSI-10 questionnaire had good test-retest reliability (Total Intraclass Correlation Coefficient: 0.86). All dry powder inhaler (DPIs) yielded satisfactory results. Median score of FSI-10 questionnaire in first visit (FSI-10-I) was significantly higher for patients receiving Elpenhaler® (45, 95% CI: 44 to 46) than patients receiving Diskus™ (42, 95% CI: 41 to 43) and Turbuhaler® (42, 95% CI: 41 to 43) (p 0.001). Accordingly, median score of FSI-10 questionnaire in the final visit (FSI-10-II) was significantly higher for patients receiving Elpenhaler® (46, 95% CI: 45 to 47) than patients receiving Diskus™ (42, 95% CI: 41 to 43) and Turbuhaler® (43, 95% CI: 42 to 44) (p 0.001).FSI-10 questionnaire had good test-retest reliability and thus can be used in the follow-up of patients with COPD, asthma and ACO. All DPIs were highly acceptable among all study groups. Elpenhaler® achieved significantly higher ratings than Diskus™ and Turbuhaler® in FSI-10 score and presented higher preference among patients with obstructive lung diseases.

Background: Gender affects the clinical presentation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The classic OSA symptoms, such as sleepiness, snoring, and apnea, are not so frequent in women. Objectives: To evaluate possible gender differences in questionnaires used for OSA prediction, such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP, STOP Bang (SB), Berlin Questionnaire (BQ), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Fatigue Scale (FS). Methods: 350 males were matched with 350 women referred to a sleep clinic, according to OSA severity. All responded to the questionnaires and underwent a sleep study. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients were separately analyzed. Results: ESS did not differ between genders. SB was higher in males, whereas STOP, BQ, AIS, and FS were higher in females. BQ presented the highest sensitivity in both genders, whereas STOP exhibited the highest specificity in males and ESS in females. AIS and FS were more sensitive and SB more specific in females, whereas BQ was more specific in males. For severe OSA, the predictive values of SB and BQ were almost similar for both genders, however AIS and FS were higher in women. CVD patients presented higher scores, independent of gender, except for AIS, which was higher in females. Conclusion: Gender-specific evaluation of questionnaires is necessary to prevent OSA under-diagnosis.

Background: Mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent, however its association with important clinical outcomes like arterial hypertension remains unknown. Aims and Objectives: To investigate the association between mild OSA and arterial hypertension in the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. Methods: A multicentric sample of 4974 adults from the ESADA cohort who showed simple snoring or mild OSA at cardiorespiratory polygraphy was studied. We compared the predictive value of mild OSA (AHI 5- Results: Arterial hypertension prevalence was 37% in mild OSA patients (n=2457) compared to 20% in non-apnoeic snorers (n=2517, p Conclusions: Mild OSA was associated with an independent 43% risk increase for arterial hypertension in this large, multicentric clinical patient cohort.

Background: Available studies show an overall poor correlation between sleep characteristics and symptoms profile in mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients. Aim of the study was to explore the relationship of daytime sleepiness, as assessed by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), with anthropometric, sleep and metabolic characteristics in mild OSA patients (apnoea-hypopnoea index [AHI] 5-15/h) in the ESADA multicenter cohort involving over 20 academic sleep centers. Methods: Data were collected on anthropometrics, ESS, metabolic and sleep variables obtained from overnight polysomnography. Results: A total of 2068 adults (63.6% males) with mean AHI 9.5±2.9/h, age 50.7±12.5 years, BMI 29.1±5.7 kg/m2, and ESS 9.2±5.1, were included in this analysis. ESS was correlated negatively with age (r=-0.115, p

A 75-year-old man (body mass index 24.49 kg·m−2) presents to the emergency department with fever, myalgia and dyspnoea, which he has had for the last 4 days. He quit smoking 15 years ago (40 pack-years). His only medical history is hypertension treated with valsartan and amlodipine. He travelled recently and stayed in a motel. On admission, his temperature is 38.7°C, blood pressure 132/67 mmHg, heart rate 102 beats per min and respiratory rate 24 breaths per min. Arterial blood gases (ABG) analysis shows severe hypoxaemia with arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) 47.1 mmHg (6.3 kPa), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) 40.9 mmHg (5.5 kPa), pH 7.464, HCO3− 28.4 mmol·L−1 and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) 84.2% while breathing room air. Laboratory tests show anaemia (haemoglobin 10.7 g·dL−1), elevated white blood cells (11 420 per μL; 92.0% neutrophils and 4.6% lymphocytes), elevated C-reactive protein (19.97 mg·dL−1) and hyponatraemia with serum Na+ 127 mmol·L−1. The rest of laboratory tests are normal. Chest radiograph showa infiltrates in both lungs. Antibiotic therapy with intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam 3 g per 6 h and antiviral therapy with oral oseltamivir 75 mg per 12 h are initiated., Is it just an infection or something more? http://ow.ly/HEcH30lSO6a

The SmokeFreeBrain (SFB), which is an EU, H2020-funded project aims to compare several antismoking approaches. Among them, the varenicline intervention seems to be extremely robust in terms of nicotine abstinence rate. However, there are some reports of side effects during sleep associated with insomnia and negatively aroused dreaming. However, these symptoms have never been objectively quantified. This study presents preliminary results from 17 participants who underwent entire polysomnographic (PSG) recordings before and 21 days after the intervention initiation. Our aim was to investigate how both smoking abstinence and varenicline treatment affect sleep quality. We employed both visual sleep scoring and functional connectivity analysis. The purpose of visual sleep scoring analysis, performed according to the guidelines of the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) was to investigate sleep macro-architecture, defined as the sleep cycles during night. We calculated various sleep parameters like efficiency, onset, stage and latency duration, sleep fragmentation and the number of arousals during sleep. Additionally, we also estimated the co-operative degree among electroencephalographic time series as well as the interactions among brain and heart. The latter analysis aimed to quantify neuroplasticity changes associated both with smoking cessation and varenicline treatment. Early results demonstrated beneficial effects from nicotine abstinence (increased oxygen saturation level, facilitated sleep onset). However, there were neurophysiological patterns of increased arousal both on autonomic (heart rate variability features) and on cortical level (increased connectivity within beta band). These patterns observed even during deep sleep stages indicating poor sleep quality.

Several tools have been used to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Evaluation of the predictive performance of different questionnaires is essential in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) because the prevalence of OSA in this population is high. The aim of this study was to evaluate different sleep questionnaires to identify T2DM patients with OSA, and to compare the predictive values of these questionnaires with a matched sample of non-diabetic patients.The study was a retrospective study of two patients groups (n = 350 with T2DM, n = 350 without T2DM) visiting a sleep clinic and matched by age, gender, body mass index, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Symptoms of OSA and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang, Berlin questionnaire, and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) scores were compared, and sleep studies were performed.Diabetic patients with OSA complained more frequently of nocturia (P = 0.025), morning headaches (P = 0.04), restless sleep (P = 0.002), and leg movements (P = 0.01) than non-diabetic patients with OSA. Most predictive values of the sleep questionnaires did not differ significantly between the two groups; however, the AIS was higher only in T2DM women (P = 0.01). In both groups, the Berlin and STOP-Bang questionnaires had the highest sensitivity. The ESS had the highest specificity in T2DM patients and the STOP and S-B questionnaires had the highest specificity in non-diabetics.The predictive performance of the questionnaires was similar in both groups, especially in the case of moderate and severe OSA.

Background: Positional obstructive sleep apnoea (pOSA) is an important sleep apnea phenotype. However, data on the risk factors and health impact of POSA are limited. Aims and Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for pOSA in the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort and to analyze clinical and polysomnographic characteristics associated with POSA. Methods: A multi-centric subsample of 1084 patients from the ESADA cohort was evaluated. Positional OSA was defined as an overall apnea- hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5, supine AHI to non-supine AHI ratio of ≥2 and an AHI that normalizes (AHI < 5) in the non-supine posture. We compared clinical and polysomnographic variables between patients with and without pOSA and investigated predictive factors for pOSA using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: 27% of patients fulfilled the pOSA criteria. These patients were significantly younger (47 vs 50, p