S leep disordered breathing (SDB) is a prevalent problem with clinical expression ranging from snoring to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The OSA syndrome affects at least 5% of the adult population. 1 A growing body of literature attests to significant morbidity associated with even mild OSA. Undiagnosed OSA with or without symptoms has been independently associated with an increased likelihood of systemic hypertension, 2 cardiovascular disease, 3 stroke, and diminished quality of life. 4,5 In addition, there is a well-recognized association between OSA, sleepiness, and automobile accidents in both commercial and noncommercial drivers. 6,7 Severe sleep apnea causes oxygen desaturation, which triggers a catecholamine surge and elevations in blood pressure. 4 This can lead to decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF) and acute stroke in the susceptible indvidiual. 3,4 It has been recognized that the combination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea worsens gas-exchange abnormalities during sleep in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, leading to increased morbidity. 5 In effect, SDB is associated with a myriad of systemic complications.In contrast with the wealth of descriptive information regarding SDB in the outpatient setting, relatively little is known regarding SDB in acutely ill patients. Most studies note the effect of the inpatient setting on sleep quality and quantity. 8 Other studies have described a high frequency of arrhythmias in subjects with SDB. 9 To date, there is no description of the association between SDB and acute exacerbations of cardiopulmonary disease in a large inpatient population. The primary aims of this study are to assess the prevalence of SDB in patients referred for inpatient polysomnography in a tertiary care center and to assess the odds of association of SDB with the underlying acute illness, as well as with patient characteristics. A secondary aim is to evaluate the quality of sleep and type of apneas in the sample.
MethodsThe study involved a retrospective chart review of polysomnographic reports and medical records of all patients who had studies done while hospitalized at Johns Hopkins Hospital or Bayview Medical Center between January 2003 and September 2004. Consent for this project was obtained from the Johns Hopkins Institutional Review Board.Total sleep time, sleep stages, sleep efficiency, the presence of SDB, type of apnea, and occurrence of hypoxemia and arrhythmias were noted. Body mass index (BMI) and inpatient