Publications (18)104.17 Total impact
-
Article: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in patients receiving therapy with buprenorphine/naloxone.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Patients using chronic opioids are at risk for exceptionally complex and potentially lethal disorders of breathing during sleep including central and obstructive apnoeas, hypopnoeas, ataxic breathing and non-apneic hypoxemia. Buprenorphine, a partial ì-opioid agonist with limited respiratory toxicity, is widely used for treatment of opioid dependency and chronic non-malignant pain however its potential for causing sleep disordered breathing has not been studied.70 consecutive patients admitted for therapy with buprenorphine/naloxone were routinely evaluated with sleep medicine consultation and attended polysomnography.The majority of patients were young (mean age ± SD =31.8±12.3 years), non-obese (mean BMI ± SD =24.9±5.9 kg·m(-2)) and female (60%). Based upon the apnoea/ hypopnoea index (AHI), at least mild sleep disordered breathing (AHI ≥5·hr(-1)) was present in 63% of the group. Moderate (AHI ≥15 to <30·hr(-1)) and severe sleep apnoea (AHI ≥30·hr(-1)) was present in 16% and 17% respectively. Hypoxemia, defined as an SpO2 of <90% for ≥10% of sleep time, was present in 27 patients (38.6%)Despite the putative protective ceiling effect regarding ventilatory suppression observed during wakefulness, buprenorphine may induce significant alterations of breathing during sleep using routine therapeutic doses.European Respiratory Journal 10/2012; · 5.89 Impact Factor -
Article: Health benefits of gastric bypass surgery after 6 years.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Extreme obesity is associated with health and cardiovascular disease risks. Although gastric bypass surgery induces rapid weight loss and ameliorates many of these risks in the short term, long-term outcomes are uncertain. To examine the association of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery with weight loss, diabetes mellitus, and other health risks 6 years after surgery. A prospective Utah-based study conducted between July 2000 and June 2011 of 1156 severely obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35) participants aged 18 to 72 years (82% women; mean BMI, 45.9; 95% CI, 31.2-60.6) who sought and received RYGB surgery (n = 418), sought but did not have surgery (n = 417; control group 1), or who were randomly selected from a population-based sample not seeking weight loss surgery (n = 321; control group 2). Weight loss, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and health-related quality of life were compared between participants having RYGB surgery and control participants using propensity score adjustment. Six years after surgery, patients who received RYGB surgery (with 92.6% follow-up) lost 27.7% (95% CI, 26.6%-28.9%) of their initial body weight compared with 0.2% (95% CI, -1.1% to 1.4%) gain in control group 1 and 0% (95% CI, -1.2% to 1.2%) in control group 2. Weight loss maintenance was superior in patients who received RYGB surgery, with 94% (95% CI, 92%-96%) and 76% (95% CI, 72%-81%) of patients receiving RYGB surgery maintaining at least 20% weight loss 2 and 6 years after surgery, respectively. Diabetes remission rates 6 years after surgery were 62% (95% CI, 49%-75%) in the RYGB surgery group, 8% (95% CI, 0%-16%) in control group 1, and 6% (95% CI, 0%-13%) in control group 2, with remission odds ratios (ORs) of 16.5 (95% CI, 4.7-57.6; P < .001) vs control group 1 and 21.5 (95% CI, 5.4-85.6; P < .001) vs control group 2. The incidence of diabetes throughout the course of the study was reduced after RYGB surgery (2%; 95% CI, 0%-4%; vs 17%; 95% CI, 10%-24%; OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.34 compared with control group 1 and 15%; 95% CI, 9%-21%; OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.67 compared with control group 2; both P < .001). The numbers of participants with bariatric surgery-related hospitalizations were 33 (7.9%), 13 (3.9%), and 6 (2.0%) for the RYGB surgery group and 2 control groups, respectively. Among severely obese patients, compared with nonsurgical control patients, the use of RYGB surgery was associated with higher rates of diabetes remission and lower risk of cardiovascular and other health outcomes over 6 years.JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association 09/2012; 308(11):1122-31. · 30.03 Impact Factor -
Article: The STOP-Bang equivalent model and prediction of severity of obstructive sleep apnea: relation to polysomnographic measurements of the apnea/hypopnea index.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Various models and questionnaires have been developed for screening specific populations for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as defined by the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI); however, almost every method is based upon dichotomizing a population, and none function ideally. We evaluated the possibility of using the STOP-Bang model (SBM) to classify severity of OSA into 4 categories ranging from none to severe. Anthropomorphic data and the presence of snoring, tiredness/sleepiness, observed apneas, and hypertension were collected from 1426 patients who underwent diagnostic polysomnography. Questionnaire data for each patient was converted to the STOP-Bang equivalent with an ordinal rating of 0 to 8. Proportional odds logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict severity of sleep apnea based upon the AHI: none (AHI < 5/h), mild (AHI ≥ 5 to < 15/h), moderate (≥ 15 to < 30/h), and severe (AHI ≥ 30/h). Linear, curvilinear, and weighted models (R(2) = 0.245, 0.251, and 0.269, respectively) were developed that predicted AHI severity. The linear model showed a progressive increase in the probability of severe (4.4% to 81.9%) and progressive decrease in the probability of none (52.5% to 1.1%). The probability of mild or moderate OSA initially increased from 32.9% and 10.3% respectively (SBM score 0) to 39.3% (SBM score 2) and 31.8% (SBM score 4), after which there was a progressive decrease in probabilities as more patients fell into the severe category. The STOP-Bang model may be useful to categorize OSA severity, triage patients for diagnostic evaluation or exclude from harm.Journal of clinical sleep medicine: JCSM: official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 10/2011; 7(5):459-65B. · 3.23 Impact Factor -
Article: NREM sleep parasomnia associated with Chiari I malformation.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Parasomnias are common sleep disorders in children, and most cases resolve naturally by adolescence.(1) They represent arousal disorders beginning in NREM sleep and are generally non-concerning in children. The diagnosis can usually be made by clinical assessment, and testing with polysomnography is not routinely indicated.(2) However, in certain cases with atypical features, polysomnography and more extensive neurologic evaluation are medically indicated.Journal of clinical sleep medicine: JCSM: official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 10/2011; 7(5):526-9. · 3.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Predicting sleep apnea in bariatric surgery patients.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Because of the high prevalence and potentially serious complications of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese individuals, several prediction models have been developed to detect moderate-to-severe OSA in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Using commonly collected variables (body mass index [BMI], age, observed sleep apnea, hemoglobin A1c, fasting plasma insulin, gender, and neck circumference), Dixon et al. developed a model with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 81% for patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery suspected to have OSA. The present study evaluated the prediction model of Dixon et al. in 310 gastric bypass patients (mean BMI 46.8 kg/m(2), age 41.6 years, 84.5% women), with no preselection for OSA symptoms in a bariatric surgery partnership. The patients underwent overnight limited polysomnography to determine the presence and severity of OSA as measured using the apnea-hypopnea index. Of the 310 patients, 44.2% had moderate-to-severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15/h). Most variables in the Dixon model were associated with a greater prevalence of OSA. The sensitivity (75%) and specificity (57%) for the model-based classification of OSA were considerably lower in the present sample than originally reported. An alternate prediction model identified 10 unique predictors of OSA. The presence of ≥ 5 of these predictors modestly improved the sensitivity (77%) and greatly improved the specificity (77%) in predicting an apnea-hypopnea index of ≥ 15/h. When applied to the validation sample, the sensitivity (76%) and specificity (72%) were essentially the same. Although the Dixon model and our model included overlapping predictors (BMI, gender, age, neck circumference), when applied in our sample of gastric bypass patients, neither model achieved the sensitivity and specificity for predicting OSA previously reported by Dixon et al.Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 05/2011; 7(5):605-10. · 3.93 Impact Factor -
Article: Favorable changes in cardiac geometry and function following gastric bypass surgery: 2-year follow-up in the Utah obesity study.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that gastric bypass surgery (GBS) would favorably impact cardiac remodeling and function. GBS is increasingly used to treat severe obesity, but there are limited outcome data. We prospectively studied 423 severely obese patients undergoing GBS and a reference group of severely obese subjects that did not have surgery (n = 733). At a 2-year follow up, GBS subjects had a large reduction in body mass index compared with the reference group (-15.4 ± 7.2 kg/m(2) vs. -0.03 ± 4.0 kg/m(2); p < 0.0001), as well as significant reductions in waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin resistance. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased. The GBS group had reductions in left ventricular (LV) mass index and right ventricular (RV) cavity area. Left atrial volume did not change in GBS but increased in reference subjects. In conjunction with reduced chamber sizes, GBS subjects also had increased LV midwall fractional shortening and RV fractional area change. In multivariable analysis, age, change in body mass index, severity of nocturnal hypoxemia, E/E', and sex were independently associated with LV mass index, whereas surgical status, change in waist circumference, and change in insulin resistance were not. Marked weight loss in patients undergoing GBS was associated with reverse cardiac remodeling and improved LV and RV function. These data support the use of bariatric surgery to prevent cardiovascular complications in severe obesity.Journal of the American College of Cardiology 02/2011; 57(6):732-9. · 14.16 Impact Factor -
Article: Sleep apnea, reproductive hormones and quality of sexual life in severely obese men.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The effect of sleep apnea on the reproductive function of obese men is not entirely elucidated. The objective of this study was to define the effect of sleep apnea on the reproductive hormones and sexual function in obese men. This study included 89 severely obese men with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 considering gastric bypass surgery. Anthropometrics (weight, and BMI), reproductive hormones, and sleep studies were measured. The sexual quality of life was assessed using the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire (IWQOL-Lite). The mean age of our patients was 46.9 ± 11.0 years, the mean BMI was 47.8 ± 8.7 kg/m2 and the mean weight was 337.7 ± 62.4 lb. After correction for age and BMI, means of free testosterone per severity group of sleep apnea were as follows: no or mild sleep apnea 74.4 ± 3.8 pg/ml, moderate sleep apnea 68.6 ± 4.2 pg/ml, and severe sleep apnea 60.2 ± 2.92 pg/ml, P = 0.014. All other parameters of sleep apnea including hypopnea index, percent time below a SpO2 of 90%, and percent time below a SpO2 of 80% were also negatively correlated with testosterone levels after correction for age and BMI. BMI and presence of coronary artery disease decreased the sexual quality of life. Sleep apnea was associated with reduced sexual quality of life. In summary, sleep apnea negatively affects testosterone levels independent of BMI. Severely obese men had decreased sexual quality of life.Obesity 01/2011; 19(6):1118-23. · 4.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Health outcomes of gastric bypass patients compared to nonsurgical, nonintervened severely obese.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Favorable health outcomes at 2 years postbariatric surgery have been reported. With exception of the Swedish Obesity Subjects (SOS) study, these studies have been surgical case series, comparison of surgery types, or surgery patients compared to subjects enrolled in planned nonsurgical intervention. This study measured gastric bypass effectiveness when compared to two separate severely obese groups not participating in designed weight-loss intervention. Three groups of severely obese subjects (N = 1,156, BMI >or= 35 kg/m(2)) were studied: gastric bypass subjects (n = 420), subjects seeking gastric bypass but did not have surgery (n = 415), and population-based subjects not seeking surgery (n = 321). Participants were studied at baseline and 2 years. Quantitative outcome measures as well as prevalence, incidence, and resolution rates of categorical health outcome variables were determined. All quantitative variables (BMI, blood pressure, lipids, diabetes-related variables, resting metabolic rate (RMR), sleep apnea, and health-related quality of life) improved significantly in the gastric bypass group compared with each comparative group (all P < 0.0001, except for diastolic blood pressure and the short form (SF-36) health survey mental component score at P < 0.01). Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension resolved much more frequently in the gastric bypass group than in the comparative groups (all P < 0.001). In the surgical group, beneficial changes of almost all quantitative variables correlated significantly with the decrease in BMI. We conclude that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery when compared to severely obese groups not enrolled in planned weight-loss intervention was highly effective for weight loss, improved health-related quality of life, and resolution of major obesity-associated complications measured at 2 years.Obesity 06/2009; 18(1):121-30. · 4.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Are opioids associated with sleep apnea? A review of the evidence.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Chronic opioid use for nonmalignant pain has increased dramatically; nonillicit unintentional deaths have also increased. This article reviews the physiology of breathing, effects of sleep on respiration, effects of opioids on respiration, potential interactions between sleep and opioids on respiration, and current evidence that chronic opioid use is associated with sleep-disordered breathing.Current Pain and Headache Reports 05/2009; 13(2):120-6. · 1.66 Impact Factor -
Article: Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) in patients with sleep disordered breathing associated with chronic opioid medications for non-malignant pain.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) can be effective therapy for specific types of central apnea such as Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR). Patients treated chronically with opioids develop central apneas and ataxic breathing patterns (Biot's respiration), but therapy with CPAP is usually unsuccessful. There are no published studies of ASV in patients with sleep apnea complicated by chronic opioid therapy. Retrospective analysis of 22 consecutive patients referred for evaluation and treatment of sleep apnea who had been using opioid medications for at least 6 months, had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > or = 20/h, and had been tested with ASV. Baseline polysomnography was compared with CPAP and ASV. Outcome variables: AHI, central apnea index (CAI), obstructive apnea index (OAI), hypopnea index (HI), desaturation index, mean SpO2, lowest SpO2, time SpO2 < 90%, and degree of Biot's respiration. Mean (SD) AHI measured 66.6/h (37.3) at baseline, 70.1/h (32.6) on CPAP, and 54.2/h (33.0) on ASV. With ASV, the mean OAI was significantly decreased to 2.4/h (p < 0.0001), and the mean HI increased significantly to 35.7/h (p < 0.0001). The decrease of CAI from 26.4/h to 15.6/h was not significant (p = 0.127). Biot's breathing persisted, and oxygenation parameters were unimproved with ASV. Due to residual respiratory events and hypoxemia, ASV was considered insufficient therapy in these patients. Persistence of obstructive events could be due to suboptimal pressure settings (end expiratory and/or maximal inspiratory). Residual central events could be related to fundamental differences in the pathophysiology of CSR compared to opioid induced breathing disturbances.Journal of clinical sleep medicine: JCSM: official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 08/2008; 4(4):311-9. · 3.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Chronic opioid use is a risk factor for the development of central sleep apnea and ataxic breathing.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Chronic opioid therapy for pain management has increased dramatically without adequate study of potential deleterious effects on breathing during sleep. A retrospective cohort study comparing 60 patients taking chronic opioids matched for age, sex, and body mass index with 60 patients not taking opioids was conducted to determine the effect of morphine dose equivalent on breathing patterns during sleep. The apnea-hypopnea index was greater in the opioid group (43.5/h vs 30.2/h, p < .05) due to increased central apneas (12.8/h vs 2.1/h; p < .001). Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the opioid group was significantly lower during both wakefulness (difference 2.1%, p < .001) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (difference 2.2%, p < .001) but not during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (difference 1.2%) than in the nonopioid group. Within the opioid group, and after controlling for body mass index, age, and sex, there was a dose-response relationship between morphine dose equivalent and apnea-hypopnea (p < .001), obstructive apnea (p < .001), hypopnea (p < .001), and central apnea indexes (p < .001). Body mass index was inversely related to apnea-hypopnea index severity in the opioid group. Ataxic or irregular breathing during NREM sleep was also more prevalent in patients who chronically used opioids (70% vs 5.0%, p < .001) and more frequent (92%) at a morphine dose equivalent of 200 mg or higher (odds ratio = 15.4, p = .017). There is a dose-dependent relationship between chronic opioid use and the development of a peculiar pattern of respiration consisting of central sleep apneas and ataxic breathing. Although potentially significant, the clinical relevance of these observations remains to be established.Journal of clinical sleep medicine: JCSM: official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 08/2007; 3(5):455-61. · 3.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Left ventricular hypertrophy in severe obesity: interactions among blood pressure, nocturnal hypoxemia, and body mass.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Obese subjects have a high prevalence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. It is unclear to what extent LV hypertrophy results directly from obesity or from associated conditions, such as hypertension, impaired glucose homeostasis, or obstructive sleep apnea. We tested the hypothesis that LV hypertrophy in severe obesity is associated with additive effects from each of the major comorbidities. Echocardiography and laboratory testing were performed in 455 severely obese subjects with body mass index 35 to 92 kg/m(2) and 59 nonobese reference subjects. LV hypertrophy, defined by allometrically corrected (LV mass/height(2.7)), gender-specific criteria, was present in 78% of the obese subjects. Multivariable regression analyses showed that average nocturnal oxygen saturation <85% was the strongest independent predictor of LV hypertrophy (P<0.001), followed by systolic blood pressure (P<0.015) and then body mass index (P<0.05). With regard to LV mass, there were synergistic effects between hypertension and body mass index (P interaction <0.001) and between hypertension and reduced nocturnal oxygen saturation. Severely obese subjects had normal LV endocardial fractional shortening (35+/-6% versus 35+/-6%) but mildly decreased midwall fractional shortening (15+/-2% versus 17+/-2%; P<0.001), indicating subtle myocardial dysfunction. In conclusion, more severe nocturnal hypoxemia, increasing systolic blood pressure, and body mass index are all independently associated with increased LV mass. The effects of increased blood pressure seem to amplify those of sleep apnea and more severe obesity.Hypertension 02/2007; 49(1):34-9. · 6.21 Impact Factor -
Article: Polysomnography in hospitalized patients using a wireless wide area network.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Sleep-disordered breathing and hypoxemia frequently underlie many common medical conditions for which patients require hospitalization. Sleep apnea is associated with adverse cardiovascular, neurovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic consequences, many of which can be reversed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Although polysomnography is the gold standard for outpatient evaluation of sleep apnea, it has not been used for establishing the diagnosis or as a means to intervene with evidence-based therapy in the hospital setting. Setting: A 468-bed tertiary-care facility for adults in which an 801.11b wireless network supplements a typical hardwired local area network. We developed a technique to perform 16-channel polysomnography on any patient in any location in the hospital without interfering with routine nursing care. Qualified sleep technicians are able to remotely adjust electrophysiologic and respiratory parameters, as well as control continuous positive airway pressure titration. The study can also be monitored from any location with Internet access using a HIPAA-compliant virtual private network. Polysomnography was performed on 51 inpatients (age 26 to 89 years; 31 men). Mean (SD) body mass index measured 34.1 kg/m(2) (12.4). Cardiac disease (47%) and neurologic disease (27%) were the most frequent primary indications for admission. Data acquisition was not disrupted due to connectivity problems. The most frequent deficiencies were reduced sleep time (range 0.8-6.5 hours; mean [SD] 3.3 hours [1.6]) and reduced or absent rapid eye movement sleep. Mean (SD) apnea-hypopnea index measured 35.9 events per hour of sleep (SD 26.3) and 19.4 events per hour of total recording time (SD 17.5). Polysomnography measurements transmitted across a wireless wide area network increases the capacity of the traditional hospital-based sleep laboratory. This technique can facilitate early implementation of appropriate therapy and may reverse underlying factors associated with the primary cause of hospitalization. Indications and standards of practice need to be specifically established for inpatient polysomnography.Journal of clinical sleep medicine: JCSM: official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 02/2006; 2(1):28-34. · 3.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Design and rationale of the Utah obesity study. A study to assess morbidity following gastric bypass surgery.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This paper details the design and baseline characteristics of a study on the morbidity associated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (GBP) in severely obese adults. This study is designed to assess the effectiveness of GBP in reducing morbidity and maintaining weight loss. A wide array of clinical tests and psycho-behavioral questionnaires are included as part of the study. Three groups (n=1156 severely obese) have been recruited for this study: cases who were approved for and participated in surgery (n=415), a control group of GBP seeking individuals who were denied surgery (n=420) and a control group that was randomly chosen from a population of severely obese participants who were not seeking GBP (n=321). Clinical measures include: a physician interview and detailed medical history, resting electro- and echocardiograms, a submaximal exercise treadmill test and electrocardiogram, pulmonary function, limited polysomnography, resting metabolic rate, anthropometrics, resting and exercise blood pressure, comprehensive blood chemistry and urinalysis and dietary, quality of life and physical activity questionnaires. Most participants (76%) were tested following an overnight stay in a clinical research center. Remaining participants underwent less extensive testing in an outpatient clinic. Baseline characteristics of the 1156 participants are available for selected measures. Mean+/-S.D. for BMI was 46+/-7.5 kg/m(2) (range=33 to 92) and for age was 44+/-11.4 years (range=18 to 72). The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was 19% and 35%, respectively. Of the participants who had an echocardiogram or polysomnogram, 92% had left-ventricular hypertrophy and 85% had mild to severe sleep apnea. The two control groups were similar to the surgical group. At approximately 24 months, all participants will have a second clinical examination. Statistical comparisons of changes in morbidity variables will be made between the surgical and control groups. This study design facilitates assessment of risks and benefits of GBP to perform recommendations on whether or not to perform surgery on the severely obese patient. Baseline and 2-year exams provide valuable data for comparison to future long-term follow-up data that can be collected at 5 and 10 years.Contemporary Clinical Trials 11/2005; 26(5):534-51. · 1.81 Impact Factor -
Article: Simultaneous use of antidepressant and antihypertensive medications increases likelihood of diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Essential hypertension and symptoms of depression such as unexplained fatigue and tiredness are frequently encountered in primary medical care clinics. Although, exhaustive evaluation rarely detects unsuspected underlying disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly associated with each of these conditions. We tested the hypothesis that therapy with antihypertensive and antidepressant medications predicts the increased likelihood of OSA. We analyzed the computer archive of 212,972 patients for prescriptions for antihypertensive medications, antidepressant medications, and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for OSA. Prevalence, prevalence odds ratio (POR), and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated correcting for gender and age group. The prevalence rates of OSA were 0.8%, 2.8%, and 3.2% for men and 0.4%, 1.4%, and 1.8% for women aged 20 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, and >or= 60 years, respectively. Compared to groups of corresponding age and gender who had not received prescriptions for either hypertension or depression, the highest PORs were found in patients receiving medications from both categories: 18.30 (95% CI, 10.69 to 25.66), 5.72 (95% CI, 4.10 to 6.70), and 4.47 (95% CI, 2.45 to 7.01) for men, and 17.43 (95% CI, 9.54 to 28.67), 7.29 (95% CI, 5.20 to 9.29), and 2.72 (95% CI, 1.48 to 4.73) for women. We found that the likelihood of having a diagnosis of OSA increases when either antihypertensive or antidepressant medications have been prescribed. The probability is highest in the young and middle-age groups receiving prescriptions for both medications. The possibility of OSA should be considered in any patient with hypertension and depression or unexplained fatigue who is receiving antihypertensive and antidepressant medications.Chest 04/2004; 125(4):1279-85. · 5.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a common echocardiographic abnormality in severe obstructive sleep apnea and reverses with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To determine cardiac structural abnormalities by echocardiography in subjects with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to determine the long-term effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on such abnormalities. Polysomnography was conducted on oximetry-screened patients who showed a desaturation index > 40/h and > or = 20% cumulative time spent below 90%. From these, 25 patients with severe OSA but without daytime hypoxemia underwent echocardiography prior to, then 1 month and 6 months following initiation of CPAP treatment. Outpatient sleep disorders center. Of the 25 patients, 13 patients (52%) had hypertension by history or on physical examination. Baseline echocardiograms showed that severe OSA was associated with numerous cardiovascular abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) [88%], left atrial enlargement (LAE) [64%], right atrial enlargement (RAE) [48%], and right ventricular hypertrophy (16%). In all patients (intent to treat) as well as those patients compliant with CPAP therapy (84% > 3 h nightly), there was a significant reduction in LVH after 6 months of CPAP therapy as measured by interventricular septal distance (baseline diastolic mean, 13.0 mm; 6-month mean after CPAP, 12.3 mm; p < 0.02). RAE and LAE were unchanged after CPAP therapy. LVH was present in high frequency in subjects with severe OSA and regressed after 6 months of nasal CPAP therapy.Chest 08/2003; 124(2):594-601. · 5.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Sleep-disordered breathing associated with long-term opioid therapy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Three patients are described who illustrate distinctive patterns of sleep-disordered breathing that we have observed in patients who are receiving long-term, sustained-release opioid medications. Polysomnography shows respiratory disturbances occur predominantly during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and are characterized by ataxic breathing, central apneas, sustained hypoxemia, and unusually prolonged obstructive "hypopneas" secondary to delayed arousal responses. In contrast to what is usually observed in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), oxygen desaturation is more severe and respiratory disturbances are longer during NREM sleep compared to rapid eye movement sleep. Further studies are needed regarding the effects of opioids on respiration during sleep as well as the importance of interaction with other medications and associated risk factors for OSA.Chest 03/2003; 123(2):632-9. · 5.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Favorable Changes in Cardiac Geometry and Function Following Gastric Bypass Surgery:: 2-Year Follow-Up in the Utah Obesity Study
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Salt Lake City, Utah; Farmington, Connecticut; and Rochester, New York Objectives The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that gastric bypass surgery (GBS) would favorably impact cardiac remodeling and function.
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
-
2005–2012
-
University of Utah
- • Department of Internal Medicine
- • Division of Cardiology
- • Division of Cardiovascular Genetics
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
-
-
2007–2011
-
Salt Lake City Community College
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
-
