Introduction
The current gold standard for a definitive diagnosis of OSA is an in-center Polysomnography (PSG). Home Sleep Apnea Testing(HSAT) has become an important tool in identifying high-risk populations. One of the limitations of the study is the lack of Electroencephalographic (EEG) data. This prevents the inclusion of Respiratory Effort Related Arousals (RERAs). We attempted to identify the patients whose HSAT showed an REI of less than 5 but are at risk for having sleep apnea based on the presence of airflow and thoraco-abdominal fluctuations.
Methods
Patients in this study were those that underwent HSAT from September 2016 till June of 2019. The studies reviewed and interpreted by board certified Sleep Specialists. Studies were done using nox-T3 sleep monitor and Nomad portable Home Sleep Testing type III devices-Both are type 3 Portable Monitors. Only those patients whose REI in their HSAT less than 5 were included in this study. All these patients had multiple airflow fluctuations in their HSAT that raised the suspicion for the presence of RERAs. None of these patients had significant hypoxemia in the HSAT.Airflow fluctuations were defined by the presence of fluctuations in the signal in the airflow channel along with increasing thoracoabdominal channels. Those patients with REI of less than 5 and without airflow fluctuations were excluded from the study.
Results
A total of 178 patients were recommended to undergo an in-center polysomnogram. Of those, 92 patients completed their polysomnogram with 59 patients ending up with a diagnosis of sleep apnea while 33 did not suggesting a false negative rate of 64.13%. Of those who were positive, 39 were females while 20 were males. Both groups did not differ significantly. Females had a median BMI of 32.9(28.19 for males), a median ESS of 11(8 in males) and a median RDI of 14.8(13.25).
Conclusion
Our study shows that both Home Sleep apnea testing can have a high proportion of false-negative results in patients exhibiting thoraco-abdominal and airflow fluctuations. The interpreting physicians should understand the limitations of the HSAT and should have a low threshold to recommend an in-center polysomnogram.
Support
None.
We report a case of an adult patient with COVID-19 pneumonia presenting as pneumatoceles as a late complication. These pneumatoceles are steroid-resistant and can predispose to cavitary lesions. These cystic lesions need close follow-up with repeat imaging as these can increase the risk of pneumothorax. It can take up to around 12 weeks for the spontaneous resolution of pneumatoceles.
Background
This study compared sleep duration, screen exposure and sleep quality in school-aged children before COVID-19 to that during school closures and again when schools re-opened in fall 2020.
Methods
Cross-sectional anonymous, online survey of parents of children 5–13 years old. Questions elicited information about sleep timing and quality, screen time, and schooling at three distinct periods: before the pandemic, when schools first closed and then re-opened in the fall.
Results
Respondents described 101 children who were an average of 8.5 years old and 51% male. In lockdown, children slept 25 min more (95%CI 00:13–00:38) due to later wake times (75 min, 95% CI 0:57–1:34) with later bedtimes (29 min, 95%CI 0:00–0:58). When schools re-opened, sleep duration returned to pre-pandemic levels, but sleep onset and offset times remained later. Despite more sleep, sleep quality and habits (e.g. bedtime refusal) worsened during lockdown and did not normalize in fall 2020. During lockdown, screen time increased in 65% of all children, and 96% of those in private schools. When schools reopened, 78% of children in hybrid/virtual learning had more than 4 h of screen exposure daily. Less screen time was associated with twofold higher odds of better sleep (OR 2.66, 95%CI 1.15–6.14).
Conclusions
Although school-aged children had more total sleep when schools were closed, sleep quality and habits worsened. Upon return to school, sleep times and quality did not normalize and were linked to screen time.
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