Epidemiology

To determine whether obstructive airways disease is associated with sleep-disordered breathing, Sanders and coworkers analyzed polysomnography and spirometry data from 5,954 participants in the Sleep Heart Health Study. Obstructive airway disease, defined as a ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) to forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 70%, was present in 1,132 participants; involvement was mostly mild (FEV₁/FVC, 63.8%). A respiratory disturbance index of greater than 10 events per hour was equally prevalent in subjects with obstructive airway disease and in subjects without obstructive airway disease, 22.3 versus 28.9%. In subjects without sleep apnea–hypopnea, the adjusted odds ratio for sleep desaturation (more than 5% of sleep time with saturation below 90%) exceeded 1.9 when FEV₁/FVC was less than 65%. The authors conclude that mild obstructive airways disease is not associated with sleep apnea–hypopnea although an FEV₁/FVC of less than 65% is associated with sleep desaturation. An editorial commentary by Fleetham accompanies this article.

In a pulmonary perspective, Snider discusses the nosology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In a summary report from a National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute Workshop, Croxton and colleagues discuss needs for opportunities for research on COPD.

Citations 1-4 of 4 total displayed.

Clinical Research in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Needs and Opportunities

Thomas L. Croxton, Gail G. Weinmann, Robert M. Senior, Robert A. Wise, James D. Crapo, and A. Sonia Buist
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 1142-1149. [Abstract] [Full text]

Nosology for Our Day: Its Application to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Gordon L. Snider
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 678-683. [Full text]

Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Related to Sleep Apnea–Hypopnea Syndrome?

John A. Fleetham
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 3-4. [Full text]

Sleep and Sleep-disordered Breathing in Adults with Predominantly Mild Obstructive Airway Disease

Mark H. Sanders, Anne B. Newman, Catherine L. Haggerty, Susan Redline, Michael Lebowitz, Jonathan Samet, George T. O'Connor, Naresh M. Punjabi, and Eyal Shahar
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 7-14. [Abstract] [Full text]

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