J William L Brown

Publications (2)8.87 Total impact

• Article: Association of obstructive sleep apnea with risk of serious cardiovascular events: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

  Yoon K Loke, J William L Brown, Chun Shing Kwok, Alagaratnam Niruban, Phyo K Myint
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  ABSTRACT: Background- The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular events remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review to determine the incident risk of cardiovascular events among patients with OSA. Methods and Results- We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE in January 2011 for prospective studies that followed up patients with OSA for incident ischemic heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality. Outcomes data were pooled using random effects meta-analysis and heterogeneity assessed with the I(2) statistic. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of different gradations of OSA severity based on apnea-hypopnea index. We identified 9 relevant studies from 1731 citations. OSA was associated with incident stroke in a meta-analysis of 5 studies (8435 participants), odds ratio (OR) 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57-3.19; I(2)=7%. A significant association was seen in studies that were predominantly on men; OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.91-4.31, whereas data on women were sparse. In the overall analysis of 6 studies (8785 participants), OSA was nonsignificantly associated with ischemic heart disease (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.83-2.91), with significant findings in the 5 studies that recruited mainly men (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.06-3.48). Substantial heterogeneity was noted (I(2)=74%). OSA was linked to cardiovascular death in 2 studies involving 2446 participants (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.20-3.65, I(2)=0%). Regression analysis showed greater likelihood of stroke or cardiovascular events with increasing apnea-hypopnea index values. Conclusions- OSA appears to be associated with stroke, but the relationship with ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular mortality needs further research.
  Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 07/2012; 5(5):720-8. · 4.91 Impact Factor
• Article: Amphetamine-associated seizures: clinical features and prognosis.

  J William L Brown, John W Dunne, Daniel M Fatovich, Daniel M Fatovic, Judy Lee, Nicholas D Lawn
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  ABSTRACT: Forty-four patients presenting with first-ever seizure within 24 h of illicit use of amphetamine or related analogs (amphetamine-associated seizures, AAS) were identified over 8 years. Patients with AAS were compared to control groups of other first-ever seizure patients (provoked n = 126 and unprovoked n = 401). Cumulative probability of recurrence was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Seizure recurrence and development of epilepsy were less likely in patients with AAS compared to provoked or unprovoked controls. Forty percent of patients with AAS had clinical risk factors for epilepsy, epileptiform abnormalities on electroencephalography (EEG), or an epileptogenic lesion on neuroimaging. Sleep deprivation was more frequently present in those with AAS. AAS likely relate to an intrinsic proconvulsant effect of these drugs combined with patient susceptibility and environmental factors.
  Epilepsia 02/2011; 52(2):401-4. · 3.96 Impact Factor