Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders (ATSI) are noted to have a higher burden of chronic health conditions. However, there is a paucity of data on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in this population. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical and polysomnographic (PSG) characteristics of ATSI and non-ATSI adult patients who underwent diagnostic PSG between 2011 and 2015. There were a total of 3078 patients. Of the total, 403 (13%) were of ATSI origin. Among those of ATSI origin, 61% were male and 39% females, while among the non-ATSI cohort, 66% were males. The median age was 47.8 years in ATSI and 51.5 years in the non-ATSI cohort. In the combined cohort, body mass index was more than 30 kg/m2 (61%), hypertension (14.4%), diabetes (17.8%), and heart disease (23.3%). The ATSI patients had higher rates of class III obesity (27 vs. 15%), hypertension (26 vs. 14%), cardiac disease (34 vs. 23%), and diabetes (37 vs. 17%). Among all the study participants, the PSG confirmed 83.7% of the patients had an apnoea–hypopnea index (AHI) more than 5/h, mild (AHI 5–15/h) in 28.4%, moderate (AHI 15–30/h) in 22.3%, and severe (AHI > 30/h) in 33.0%. Among the ATSI patients, 46% had severe OSA. The median total AHI value was higher in the ATSI population (25, interquartile range [IQR]: 11–58) compared to the non-ATSI (17, IQR: 7–36), and in rural/remote population (19, IQR: 8–42) compared to urban (17, IQR: 7–37). This trend was similar for NREM (non-rapid eye movement)-AHI and REM (rapid eye movement)-AHI scores, although statistically significant difference was found only with ATSI status. In the combined cohort the probability of (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.32–2.00, p < 0.001) of severe OSA was 62% higher in individual with hypertension, however, when stratified by ATSI status, the association was only significant in the non-ATSI population (OR = 1.53 95% CI: 1.21–1.94, p < 0.001). The odds of severe AHI was also significantly associated with heart disease (1.37; 95% CI: 1.14,1.63, p < 0.001), diabetes (1.74; 95% CI: 1.43,2.10; p < 0.001) and smoking (1.28; 95% CI: 1.09,1.50, p = 0.0023) in the overall study cohort. In both ATSI and non-ATSI patients, body mass index, neck circumference, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and respiratory arousal index were significantly higher and independently associated with severe AHI.

A 28-year-old woman of Laotian origin presented with dry cough, fevers, night sweats and weight loss over the preceding 6 weeks. Radiological investigations revealed large complex cavitary lesions in the middle and lower lobes of the right lung, with no mediastinal lymph node enlargement. Bronchoscopic investigations did not yield a diagnosis. CT-guided fine-needle aspiration raised the possibility of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Open lung biopsy initially supported this, but eventually a microscopic and immunohistochemical diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma was made. The final diagnosis was primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma. We present a new case as well as a literature review of reported cases published since 2006.

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Platypnoea Orthodeoxia syndrome is defined by dyspnoea and hypoxaemia exacerbated by orthostatic positioning and alleviated in recumbency. This condition has been reported in association with pulmonary, hepatic and cardiac disease. We describe a case herein of a 79 year old female who developed severe hypoxaemia and dyspnoea post laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A difference in arterial blood gas oxygen tension was demonstrated in the supine and erect positions on arterial blood gas analysis. A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) with a right to left shunt was evident on echocardiogram employing colour doppler and agitated normal saline studies. Definitive management, with closure of the patent foramen ovale lead to a complete resolution of symptoms and normalisation of arterial blood gas parameters in both the supine and erect positions.

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