Title

Respiratory cycle-related EEG changes: Response to CPAP

Authors

Ronald D. Chervin, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Anita Valanju Shelgikar, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Joseph W. Burns, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2012

Abstract

Study Objectives:

Respiratory cycle-related EEG changes (RCREC) quantify statistically significant synchrony between respiratory cycles and EEG spectral power, vary to some extent with work of breathing, and may help to predict sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This study was designed to assess the acute response of RCREC to relief of upper airway obstruction by positive airway pressure (PAP).

Design:

Comparison of RCREC between baseline diagnostic polysomnograms and PAP titration studies.

Setting:

Accredited academic sleep disorders center.

Patients:

Fifty adults referred for suspected sleep disordered breathing.

Interventions:

For each recording, the RCREC in specific physiologic EEG frequency ranges were computed as previously described for the last 3 h of sleep not occupied by apneic events.

Results:

The sample included 27 women; mean age was 47 ± 11 (SD) years; and median respiratory disturbance index at baseline was 24 (inter-quartile range 15-43). Decrements in RCREC, from baseline to PAP titration, reached 43%, 24%, 14%, 22%, and 31% for delta (P = 0.0004), theta (P = 0.01), alpha (P = 0.10), sigma (P = 0.08), and beta (P = 0.01) EEG frequency ranges, respectively. Within each specific sleep stage, these reductions from baseline to PAP studies in synchrony between EEG power and respiratory cycles still reached significance (P < 0.05) for one or more EEG frequency ranges and for all frequency ranges during REM sleep.

Conclusions:

RCREC tends to diminish acutely with alleviation of upper airway obstruction by PAP. These data in combination with previous observations support the hypothesis that RCREC reflect numerous, subtle, brief, but consequential inspiratory microarousals.

Publisher's Statement

© 2012 American Academy of Sleep Publishers. Publisher's version or record: http://dx.doi.org/10.5665%2Fsleep.1622

Publication Title

Sleep

Recommended Citation

Chervin, R. D., Shelgikar, A. V., & Burns, J. W. (2012). Respiratory cycle-related EEG changes: Response to CPAP. Sleep, 35(2), 203-209. http://doi.org/10.5665%2Fsleep.1622
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/mtri_p/45