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Biomedical subjects

Christian Guilleminault

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Guilleminault.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, sleepiness, and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the addition of short arousals of > 3 s on indexes of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and subjective sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to evaluate the quality of life and reported difficulty driving with arousal index and indexes of SDB. METHOD: Data was collected from a general clinical evaluation, and evaluations using the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), the sleep disorders questionnaire, the Beck depression inventory (BDI), the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), a questionnaire on driving difficulties and accidents, and polysomnography. RESULTS: A total of 135 male subjects (mean [+/- SD] age, 52 +/- 12.1 years; mean body mass index [BMI], 27.8 +/- 5.6 kg/m(2); mean apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], 48.7 +/- 26.8 events per hour) were studied. Of these subjects, 70.4% acknowledged having driven while sleepy. ESS scores correlated significantly with the arousal index and AHI, and negatively with the lowest arterial oxygen saturation. The "physical functioning," "general health," and "role physical" subscales of the SF-36 correlated with the arousal index. No significant correlation was seen in multiple regression analyses after adjusting for age and BMI, using "reports of sleepiness while driving" as the dependent variable. CONCLUSION: Several subjective complaints and subscales of the SF-36 correlated significantly with a frequency of SDB-related arousal of > 3 s. Patients perceived that an organic health problem had been impairing their quality of life more than an emotional problem, despite elevated scores on the BDI. However, if sleepiness while driving was common in OSA patients, it was not significant. Many clinical and polysomnographic variables may be considered as possible independent variables in the regression analysis. Other unrelated factors have a greater impact. To relate sleepiness while driving only to the usually studied variables in OSA patients is an oversimplification.

Adult↗

Somnambulism (sleepwalking).

Somnambulism is an arousal parasomnia consisting of a series of complex behaviours that result in large movements in bed or walking during sleep. It occurs in 2-14% of children and 1.6-2.4% of adults. Occasional benign episodes are managed conservatively. However, recurrent sleepwalking with a risk of injury to self or others mandates immediate treatment with pharmacotherapy while awaiting work-up. The most commonly used medications are benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam, with tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors also administered. Treatment of underlying causes such as obstructive sleep apnoea, upper airway resistance syndrome, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements, is currently the best approach and usually eliminates somnambulism in children and adults.

Adult↗

Emerging drugs for narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy is characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness, usually associated with cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis and fragmented nocturnal sleep. Although uncommon, it results in significant disability. Most cases occur sporadically, but genetic factors probably form a susceptibility background on which unknown environmental triggers act. The hypocretin system is strongly implicated in the development of narcolepsy. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of hypocretin-1 are significantly reduced in narcoleptic subjects with cataplexy. Despite the advances in our understanding of narcolepsy, current therapy is primarily symptomatic. Stimulants (standard and novel) combat excessive daytime sleepiness. Antidepressants (tricyclics, dual-action or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) and sodium oxybate are anticataplexy agents. Hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis respond to antidepressants. Sodium oxybate consolidates sleep. Novel and experimental treatments include histamine antagonists, hypocretin agonists, slow-wave sleep enhancers, intravenous gamma-globulin, tramadol and corticosteroids.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗

Efficacy of automated continuous positive airway pressure in children with sleep-related breathing disorders in an attended setting.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of automated continuous positive airway pressure (Auto-CPAP) in children. Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) include the clinical spectrum of symptomatic chronic snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. This spectrum occurs in adults and children. Less data are available for children despite recognition of the condition's prevalence. CPAP has been an established treatment for adults and children. Treatment with Auto-CPAP has been available for adults but has not been reported previously in children. METHODS: A group of 14 children (8 months to 12 years old) was evaluated prospectively with baseline polysomnographic study and CPAP titration performed with Auto-CPAP under sleep technologist supervision. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that Auto-CPAP is sensitive and effective for children with obstructive sleep apnea in an attended setting. There was 1 subject who did not seem to tolerate Auto-CPAP, but when she was switched to conventional CPAP, she did not tolerate that either. In this subject, the mask never fit well. She was excluded from the analysis. All other patients had a decrease in the number of abnormal breathing events during sleep. The respiratory disturbance index decreased from a mean of 12.6 (SD: 12.4) to 2.6 (SD: 2.7) events per hour. The lowest oxygen saturation improved from a mean of 86% (SD: 10.8) to 93.6% (SD: 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Auto-CPAP is safe and effective in an attended environment. Auto-CPAP did not eliminate all the abnormal respiratory events. In subjects 1 and 14, the final respiratory index improved but remained >5 events per hour (5.9 and 7.7, respectively). We suspect that this was because of problems with the masks leaking, which illustrates the importance of follow-up and possible need for retitration in some patients. Proper mask fit is essential for successful treatment. Additional work is needed to evaluate its utility in the home setting. This study was designed to evaluate Auto-CPAP titration in an attended environment. It did not indicate information about the effectiveness in an unattended or home setting. We demonstrate that Auto-CPAP is able to detect abnormal breathing events during sleep in children and may provide the necessary pressure to correct these events. Auto-CPAP can be used safely for pressure titration in an attended setting. Auto-CPAP devices from different manufactures are commercially available for adults. These different devices may have different algorithms and sensitivities to detect abnormal breathing episodes. This study was performed with only 1 specific model of Auto-CPAP. Our results should not be extrapolated to other Auto-CPAP devices without empirical confirmation of the devices' ability to detect and correct events in children. Auto-CPAP can be an alternative treatment for SRBDS in the pediatric population. These results allow for speculation of possible applications for Auto-CPAP in children. A potential advantage of Auto-CPAP includes permitting the initiation of treatment while awaiting a standard CPAP titration. The variable pressure response of Auto-CPAP allows for treatment under different situations such as upper airway infections, different sleeping positions, and changes in weight. As the child grows, the amount of positive pressure needed to maintain airway patency may change. Auto-CPAP may be able to adjust to these changing pressure requirements. Auto-CPAP does not eliminate the need for periodic office visits and evaluations of the clinical course.

Automation↗

Abnormal blood pressure in prepubertal children with sleep-disordered breathing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between low blood pressure (BP) with mild symptoms of orthostatism, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and tilt test results in 7- to 12-y-old children. A retrospective chart review of 301 children, ages 7 to 12 y, was initially performed to evaluate the frequency of abnormal BP measurements. Then a prospective study was performed on 7- to 12-y-old prepubertal children with SDB, looking for both abnormal BP and mild orthostatism. All children had polysomnography. Those identified with abnormal (high or low) BP measurements (called "BP outliers") were studied with a new polysomnogram followed by a head-up tilt test as an indicator of autonomic activity. Four of the children with low BP were treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure and received a second head-up tilt test 3.5 to 7 mo after starting treatment. The prospective study included 78 children, eight of whom were BP outliers. Seven of these outliers had low BP. Compared with all of the SDB subjects, SDB subjects with low BP and indicators of mild orthostatic hypotension had a significantly higher incidence of craniofacial dysmorphism, symptoms of SDB early in life, chronically cold extremities, and dizziness on standing up (chi2, p = 0.01 to 0.0001). They had a significantly greater drop in BP without evidence of autonomic neuropathy than all other children on head-up tilt testing (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment, p = 0.001 to 0.0001). However, the normotensive SDB controls also had significantly different BP drops than the normal controls (p = 0.0001). The four children placed on nasal continuous positive airway pressure had a nonsignificant trend toward normalization of tilt test response. SDB in prepubertal children can lead to different abnormal stimulation of the autonomic nervous system, with different impacts on BP. The severity and frequency of oxygen saturation drops during sleep, nonhypoxic increases in respiratory effort, and the duration of abnormal breathing are suspected of playing a role in the difference in autonomic nervous system stimulation.

Blood Pressure↗

Sleep and respiratory stimulus specific dampening of cortical responsiveness in OSAS.

The application of inspiratory occlusion stimuli produces cortical responses called respiratory-related evoked potentials (RREPs). During wakefulness the RREP waveform consists of early P1 and Nf components, an N1 and a P300. During non-REM sleep the predominant component is an N550, best seen in the averages of elicited K-complexes. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients have been previously shown to have a normal wake RREP but to have a reduced amplitude N550 and a smaller proportion of elicited K-complexes than controls. The present study tested the hypothesis that this reflects a sleep-specific dampening peculiar to inspiratory effort-related stimuli, by assessing both respiratory and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) during wakefulness and non-REM sleep in OSAS patients and controls. Auditory tones were presented in an oddball sequence during wakefulness and as a monotonous series during stage 2 sleep. Inspiratory occlusions, delivered for 500 msec via an nCPAP mask were also presented during wakefulness and stage 2 sleep, every three to five breaths. Data were collected from ten OSAS patients and ten controls. There were no significant differences in the amplitudes of the auditory N1 and P3 or the respiratory P1, Nf, N1 or P3 components during wakefulness. The amplitude of the auditory N550 and the proportion of elicited K-complexes did not differ between groups for auditory stimuli presented during stage 2 sleep. The respiratory N550 and K-complex elicitation rate were both significantly reduced in the OSAS group, despite there being no differences in the mask occlusion pressure response to the occlusion. The results confirm a blunted cortical response to inspiratory occlusions that is specific to sleep. The absence of significant group differences in the responses to auditory stimuli highlight that the sleep-related differences seen in OSAS patients are specific to the processing of inspiratory effort related stimuli.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Anterior cervical spine fusion and sleep disordered breathing.

The authors reviewed 12 patients who developed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome in association with anterior cervical spine fusion. Four subsequent patients were studied prospectively before C2 to C4 anterior fusion and documented to have OSA by questionnaire, visual analogue scales, polysomnography, and multiple sleep latency tests. The authors found that placement of the anterior cervical plates reduced the size of the upper airway. Symptoms and objective findings were controlled with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Airway Obstruction↗

Fatigue, sleep restriction, and performance in automobile drivers: a controlled study in a natural environment.

OBJECTIVES: To test the neurobehavioral consequences of sleep restriction combined with fatigue from long-distance driving (1000 Km/600 miles). DESIGN: Counterbalanced study involving 3 experimental conditions: laboratory after controlled habitual sleep (8.5 hours), driving after controlled habitual sleep (8.5 hours) (Road 1), and driving after reduced sleep (2 hours) (Road 2). SETTING: Sleep laboratory and open French highway. PARTICIPANTS: 10 male participants (mean age 22 years, range 18-24 years, mean driving distance per year 15000 Km/9000 miles) free of sleep disorders. MEASUREMENTS: Simple reaction time, prospective self-assessment of performance, and instantaneous fatigue and sleepiness ratings measured at 2-hour intervals. RESULTS: A two-way repeated ANOVA with time of day and condition indicated a significant main effect for time of day (p < 0.05). The interaction between the two factors (condition * time of day) was also significant (p < 0.05). The effects of time of day were significant only in the condition of driving after sleep restriction, (p < 0.05). Under sleep restriction, some drivers presented an increase of 650 milliseconds compared to the laboratory condition, representing an increase of 23 meters in breaking distance at a speed of 75 miles per hour. Correlation analyses showed a significant linear correlation between self-assessment and reaction time in the laboratory condition (r = -0.58, p < 0.01) but not in the road conditions. Self-ratings during the breaks showed a significant increase in instantaneous self-rated fatigue and sleepiness between Road 1 and Road 2 conditions (Wilcoxon's test, Z = - 6.47, p < 0.0001 and Z = - 6.26, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep restriction combined with fatigue significantly affects reaction time. The lack of correspondence between reaction time and prospective self-evaluation of performance suggests that self-monitoring in real conditions is poorly reliable.

Adolescent↗

Competency-based goals for sleep and chronobiology in undergraduate medical education.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep and circadian rhythms are biologic processes operative in health and disease, but as yet there is no articulated curriculum for undergraduate medical education. DESIGN: A multidisciplinary expert-opinion approach was utilized to assess and define education objectives and the potential for implementation. SETTING: N/A. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: National Institutes of Health Sleep Academic Awardees. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. RESULTS: Four competencies with examples of instruction objectives were identified relating to sleep processes and sleep need, the impact of sleep and sleep disorders on human illness, the sleep history, and the application of sleep physiology and pathophysiology to patent care. Various strategies and tools are currently available for implementation and assessment of learning objectives for these knowledge and skills. CONCLUSION: The core competencies can be designed to improve physician knowledge and skills in recognizing and intervening in sleep problems and disorders. Learning objectives can be immediately incorporated into most medical school curricula. At the same time, these competencies serve as an important bridge across multiple medical content areas and disciplines and between undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Chronobiology Phenomena↗

Long-term follow-up and mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and related syndromes through infancy and childhood.

BACKGROUND: Although tonsil and adenoid (T&A) enlargement in children is a leading cause of it, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) may occur at any age. But even after T&A surgery, some children experience recurrent apneic episodes. The reasons for possible recurrence are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the prevalence of recurrent OSA after T&A surgery and find out a common cause of OSA in children from the neonatal period to adulthood. METHOD: A retrospective report of apneic patients followed in a tertiary-care center is presented. Telephone interviews of parents were performed 3 years after T&A surgery. The questionnaire included night and day symptoms related to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). A literature review was performed about associated causes of upper airway stenosis. RESULTS: Out of 59 children who were included to follow up, 5 (8.5%) experienced residual or recurrent symptoms of SDB. The literature suggests the role of skeletal abnormalities in this process through nasal or pharyngeal stenosis. Major craniofacial anomalies are a well-known cause of obstruction. Thickened soft tissue has to be ruled out. Minor stenoses or neuromuscular disorders are less often diagnosed although they seem to be involved as well. CONCLUSION: A longitudinal follow-up of apneic children is able to reveal recurrence of SDB after adenotonsillectomy and often allows the understanding of mechanisms of upstream-induced recurrent pharyngeal obstructions.

Adolescent↗

An adjunctive method of radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of the tongue for OSAS.

OBJECTIVES: Temperature-controlled radiofrequency volumetric reduction (TCRF), a minimally invasive procedure, has been used to treat tongue base obstruction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). An adjunctive method was objectively evaluated. METHOD: A prospective, nonrandomized clinical study was undertaken on 20 consecutive OSAS patients with isolated tongue base obstruction. Under local anesthesia, multiple lesions of the ventral tongue (genioglossus insertion) and dorsal tongue were given at each treatment session. A visual analog scale was used to assess changes in speech and swallowing. Polysomnography and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were used to assess outcome. Patients were maintained on nasal continuous positive airway pressure after each treatment. RESULTS: Patients received a mean 4.6 +/- 0.6 treatments for a mean total of 7915 +/- 1152 joules. There was no significant change in speech or swallowing at 3 months after completion of treatment. Patients reported a significant decrease in sleepiness with a mean change in ESS from 12.4 +/- 2.9 to 7.3 +/- 3.0 (P < 0.001). Mean apnea/hypopnea index decreased from 35.1 +/- 18.1 to 15.1 +/- 17.4 (P < 0.001). Transient mild to moderate pain and swelling occurred after each treatment. There were no significant complications (ulceration, paresthesia, infection). CONCLUSION: TCRF can successfully treat the OSAS patient with tongue base obstruction. Combined treatment of the ventral (genioglossus insertion) and dorsal tongue appears safe and may improve outcome with less total energy when compared with traditional dorsal-only applications.

Adult↗

Preliminary observations on the effects of sleep time in a sleep restriction paradigm.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate of the effect of 7 days of sleep restriction--with sleep placed at the beginning of night or early morning hours - on sleep variables, maintenance of wakefulness test, and serum leptin. METHODS: After screening young adults with questionnaires and actigraphy for 1 week, eight young adult males were recruited to participate in a sleep restriction study. The subjects were studied for baseline data for 2.5 days, with 8.5 h per night in bed, and then over 7 days of sleep restriction to 4 h per night with a 22:30 h bedtime for half the group and a 02:15 h bedtime for the other half. At the end of study, after one night of ad libitum sleep, subjects again had 2 days of 8.5 h in bed. Wakefulness was continuously verified and tests, including Maintenance of Wakefulness (MWT), were performed during the scheduled wake time. Blood was drawn six times throughout the 24 h of the 7th day of sleep restriction and after 2 days of the post-restriction schedule. RESULTS: There was individual variability in response to sleep restriction, but independent of group distribution, MWT was significantly affected by sleep restriction, with the early morning sleep group having less decrease in MWT score. Sleep efficiency was also better in this group, which also had shorter sleep latency. Independent of group distribution there was a greater increase in the percentage of slow wave sleep than rapid eye movement sleep, despite a clear internal variability and variability between subjects. Peak serum leptin was significantly decreased with 7 days of sleep restriction for all subjects. CONCLUSION: Sleep restriction to 4 h affected all subjects, but there were individual and group differences in MWT and sleep data. In this group of young adult males (mean age 19 years), there was a better overall adaptation to the early morning sleep, perhaps related to the general tendency in most adolescents to present some phase-delay during late teen-aged years.

Adolescent↗

Sleepwalking and sleep terrors in prepubertal children: what triggers them?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical presentation and polysomnography of prepubertal children with repetitive sleep terrors and sleepwalking, to compare them with a control group, and to evaluate the treatment of associated sleep disorders. METHODS: Patients with complaint of sleep terrors with or without sleepwalking were studied retrospectively. A control group was also recruited. Each subject received a standardized evaluation, which included the following: 1) Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire; 2) interview regarding child's medical and sociofamilial history, orthodontic history, schooling, psychological difficulties, medication intake, and family history of medical and sleep disorders; 3) general pediatric physical examination and neurologic, otolaryngological, and craniofacial examination by a specialist; 4) obtaining medical history on variables relevant to early life sleep disorders; 5) polysomnography, which included electroencephalogram (EEG; C3/A2, Fp1/T1, T1/O1, O1/C3, C4/A1, Fp2/T2, T2/O2, O2/C4), chin and leg electromyelogram, right and left electro-oculogram, and electrocardiogram (modified V2 lead); respiration was monitored with a nasal cannula/pressure transducer system, mouth thermistor, chest and abdominal bands, pulse oximeter, and neck microphone; respiratory effort was monitored with calibrated esophageal manometry; variables were collected on a computerized sleep system; and 6) available family members with a positive history of sleep terrors and sleepwalking received clinical evaluations similar to those used for index cases; they also underwent ambulatory monitoring with an Edentrace system, which monitors heart rate, body position, oro-nasal flow, chest impedance, breathing noises (neck microphone), and pulse oximetry. Movements are deduced from artifact, and leg movements may be recorded on one channel if the equipment is preset for such recording. Subjects used logs to record "lights out" time, "lights on" time, nocturnal awakenings, and other events that occurred during the night. All original and follow-up recordings were rescored by 2 of 4 randomly selected specialists who were blind to subject identity. Mann-Whitney U test was used for group comparison. Nonparametric chi2 test was used to compare percentages of symptoms in symptomatic children versus control children. RESULTS: Eighty-four children (5 with sleep terrors and 79 with both sleep terrors and sleepwalking) and 36 normal control children formed the studied population. All subjects were Tanner stage 1 (prepubertal). None of the control children had any parasomnias. Fifty-one (61%) of 84 children with parasomnia had a diagnosis of an additional sleep disorder: 49 with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and 2 with restless leg syndrome (RLS). Twenty-nine of the children with both parasomnia and SDB had a positive family history of parasomnias, and 24 of the 29 also had a positive family history of SDB. Of the 51 children with associated sleep disorders, 45 were treated. Forty-three of 49 children with SDB were treated with tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and/or turbinate revision, and 2 of 2 children with RLS were treated with Pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, at bedtime. Treatment of the precipitating sleep disorder eliminated parasomnias in all 45 children. In all 43 children who received surgery, polysomnography performed 3 to 4 months later indicated the disappearance of SDB. The recordings also showed an absence of confusional arousals. The number of EEG arousals significantly decreased from a mean of 9 +/- 2.6 EEG arousals > or =3 seconds/hour during total sleep time to 3 +/- 1.5. The number of EEG arousals > or =3 seconds during the first sleep cycle of slow wave sleep (stage 3-4 non-rapid eye movement sleep) decreased from 4 +/- 1.4 to 1 +/- 0.2. In all surgically treated cases, parents also reported subsequent absence of the parasomnia. The 2 symptomatic children who were treated with Pramipexole had a complete absence of confusional arousals on the follow-up recording and reported no parasomnia since treatment. The periodic limb movemia since treatment. The periodic limb movement syndrome arousal index (number of EEG arousals associated with periodic limb movement/hour) decreased from 11 and 16 to 0 and 0.2, respectively. Parasomnia persisted in the 6 children who were untreated for SDB. Surgeons had refused to perform surgery on these children because of lack of data on the relationship between parasomnia and SDB-related tonsil and adenoid enlargement. CONCLUSION: Children with chronic parasomnias may often also present SDB or, to a lesser extent, RLS. Furthermore, the disappearance of the parasomnias after the treatment of the SDB or RLS periodic limb movement syndrome suggests that the latter may trigger the former. The high frequency of SDB in family members of children with parasomnia provided additional evidence that SDB may manifest as parasomnias in children. Children with parasomnias are not systematically monitored during sleep, although past studies have suggested that patients with sleep terrors or sleepwalking have an elevated level of brief EEG arousals. When children receive polysomnographies, discrete patterns (eg, nasal flow limitation, abnormal respiratory effort, bursts of high theta or slow alpha EEG frequencies) should be sought; apneas are rarely found in children. Children's respiration during sleep should be monitored with nasal cannula/pressure transducer system and/or esophageal manometry, which are more sensitive than the thermistors or thermocouples currently used in many laboratories. The clear, prompt improvement of severe parasomnia in children who are treated for SDB, as defined here, provides important evidence that subtle SDB can have substantial health-related significance. Also noteworthy is the report of familial presence of parasomnia. Studies of twin cohorts and families with sleep terror and sleepwalking suggest genetic involvement of parasomnias. RLS and SDB have been shown to have familial recurrence. RLS has been shown to have genetic involvement. It remains to be investigated whether a genetic factor directly influences sleep terror and sleepwalking or instead influences other disorders that fragment sleep and lead to confusional arousals. Additional studies are needed to investigate the association between SDB and non-;rapid eye movement parasomnias in the general population.

Benzothiazoles↗

Medical and socio-professional impact of insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Insomnia, a highly prevalent disorder with direct and indirect economic and professional consequences, affects daytime functioning, behavior, and quality of life. Several studies have shown that insomnia affects the workforce and is associated with an increased risk of accidents. Insomnia may also play a role in other disorders. Our study attempted to evaluate the socio-professional correlates of insomnia by comparing a group of insomniacs to a group of good sleepers. DESIGN: With a questionnaire focused on the socio-professional and medical consequences of insomnia, we surveyed a group of severe insomniacs and a group of good sleepers. Persons with psychiatric disorders according to the DSM-IV minimum criteria for anxiety and depression were eliminated from each group. After screening, 240 insomniacs and 391 good sleepers remained and were then compared. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Compared to good sleepers, severe insomniacs reported more medical problems, had more physician-office visits, were hospitalized twice as often, and used more medication. Severe insomniacs had a higher rate of absenteeism, missing work twice as often as did good sleepers. They also had more problems at work (including decreased concentration, difficulty performing duties, and more work-related accidents). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that insomnia has socio-professional consequences and is correlated with lower medical status.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Associations between symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, restless legs, and periodic leg movements.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has shown associations with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) among small samples of referred children, but whether RLS or PLMS are common more generally among hyperactive children has not been well studied. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Two university-affiliated but community-based general pediatrics clinics. PATIENTS: N=866 children (469 boys), aged 2.0 to 13.9 years (mean 6.8+/-3.2 years), with clinic appointments. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS: A validated Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire assessed for PLMS (a 6-item subscale), restless legs, growing pains, and several potential confounds of an association between behavior and PLMS or RLS. Parents also completed two common behavioral measures, a DSM-IV-derived inattention/hyperactivity scale (IHS) and the hyperactivity index (HI, expressed as a t-score) of the Conners' Parent Rating Scale. RESULTS: Restless legs were reported in 17% (95% C.I. [15, 20]) of the subjects. Positive HI scores (>60) were found in 13% [11, 16] of all subjects, 18% [12, 25] of children with restless legs, and 11% [9, 14] of children without restless legs (chi-square p<0.05). Odds ratios between HI>60 and each of the following were: a one-s.d. increase in the overall PLMS score, 1.6 [1.4, 1.9]; restless legs, 1.9 [1.1, 3.2]; and growing pains, 1.9 [0.9, 3.6] (all age and sex-adjusted). Results were similar for high IHS scores (>1.25). The associations between each behavioral measure and the PLMS score retained significance after statistical adjustment for sleepiness, snoring, restless sleep in general, or stimulant use. CONCLUSIONS: Inattention and hyperactivity among general pediatric patients are associated with symptoms of PLMS and RLS. If either condition contributes to hyperactivity, the magnitude of association suggests an important public health problem.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗