Sleep Medicine Commons^™

Improving The Adherence Of Providers To The American Academy Of Sleep Medicine Guidelines For The Evaluation, Treatment, And Management Of Obstructive Sleep, Heather Miles

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this project is to increase the adherence of clinic providers to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Clinical Guidelines for the Evaluation, Management, and Longterm Care of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults. OSA is a chronic condition that effects from 2% to 10% of the U.S. adult population. Implications of undiagnosed OSA include excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, difficulty controlling chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension, heart arrhythmias, gastroesophageal reflux disease, mood disorders, attention deficit disorder, and an increased potential for dementia if left untreated. A protocol was created to align providers with the clinical guidelines. Provider …

Age-Related Effect Of Viral-Induced Wheezing In Severe Prematurity, Geovanny F. Perez, Amisha Jain, Bassem Kurdi, Rosemary Megalaa, Krishna Pancham, Shehlanoor Huseni, Natalia Isaza, Carlos E. Rodriguez-Martinez, Mary C. Rose, Dinesh Pillai, Gustavo Nino

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Abstract: Premature children are prone to severe viral respiratory infections in early life, but the age at which susceptibility peaks and disappears for each pathogen is unclear. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of the age distribution and clinical features of acute viral respiratory infections in full-term and premature children, aged zero to seven years. Results: The study comprised of a total of 630 hospitalizations (n = 580 children). Sixty-seven percent of these hospitalizations occurred in children born full-term (> 37 weeks), 12% in preterm (32–37 weeks) and 21% in severely premature children (< 32 weeks). The most common viruses identified were rhinovirus (RV; 60%) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 17%). Age-distribution analysis of each virus identified that severely premature children had a higher relative frequency of RV and RSV in their first three years, relative to preterm or full-term children. Additionally, the probability of RV- or RSV-induced wheezing was higher overall in severely premature children less than three years old. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the …

Healthy Living An In-Depth Look, Nina Radcliff, Md, Kristin Detterline

Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center in the News

Features Dr. Ritu Grewal, pulmonologist and attending physician at Jefferson Sleep Disorder Center Women's Program.

Pharmacotherapy For Chronic Insomnia: A Brief Survey Of Pcp Attitudes And Preferences, Adam J. Sorscher, Ali A. Siddiqui, Ardis Olson, Deborah J. Johnson

Dartmouth Scholarship

Purpose: To examine primary care professionals (PCP) attitudes and prescribing preferences toward hypnotic medications to treat chronic insomnia. Methods: An online survey was sent to members of the Dartmouth CO-OP, a practice-based primary care research network in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The survey begins with a case vignette of a 64-year old woman suffering from chronic insomnia. Clinicians were then presented with eight questions about management of the patient and their attitudes toward prescribing medications, focusing on benzodiazepines/benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BDZ/BZRAs). Results: 103 of 198 clinicians (52%) responded. Regarding choice of medication for the case vignette, 80% of respondents …

Sleep: A Human Rights Issue, Clark J. Lee

Homeland Security Publications

Recognition of sleep as a human rights issue by governmental and legal entities (as illustrated by recent legal cases in the United States and India) raises the profile of sleep health as a societal concern. Although this recognition may not lead to immediate public policy changes, it infuses the public discourse about the importance of sleep health with loftier ideals about what it means to be human. Such recognition also elevates the work of sleep researchers and practitioners from serving the altruistic purpose of improving human health at the individual and population levels to serving the higher altruistic purpose of …

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Do Pressure Requirements Change Over Time With Auto Titrating Positive Airway Pressure Therapy For Obstructive Sleep Apnea?, Anupama Tiwari, Md, Karl Doghramji, Md, Ritu Grewal, Md

Department of Sleep Medicine Faculty Papers

Study Objective:

Prior studies have demonstrated reduced inflammation after chronic use of CPAP therapy. This may lead to reduced pressures over time as the upper airway becomes more compliant. We sought to determine if there was a reduction in 90th percentile pressure requirements in patients on Auto PAP for OSA.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of 988 patients who underwent a sleep study at our sleep center was performed. Those with moderate to severe sleep apnea who were prescribed and compliant with Respironics Auto PAP were included, yielding a total of 46 patients for analysis. All statistical analysis analyses were …

Does A Short, Thick Neck Predict Obstructive Sleep Apnea?: The Role Of Physical Examination In Osa Screening, Ramya Punati, Md, Shivan Saxena, Md, Constantine Daskalakis, Sc.D., Salvatore Mangione, Md, Ritu G. Grewal, Md

Department of Sleep Medicine Faculty Papers

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a short neck, alone or together with a thick neck, can predict obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods:

The laryngeal heights of 169 new adult patients presenting to a sleep medicine physician were measured over a period of 5 months. Neck circumference, Mallampati score, and body-mass index (BMI) were also determined, together with medical history, smoking status, and serum bicarbonate. Lastly, patients’ polysomnograms were obtained in order to ascertain the presence or absence of OSA as indicated by the apnea-hypopnea index, as well as other sleep study parameters.

Results:

No association …

Severe Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome Treated With Auto-Cpap, Zhanna Fast, Md, Ritu G. Grewal, Md

Department of Sleep Medicine Faculty Papers

Summary

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a serious medical condition that remains undiagnosed in seriously ill hospitalized patients. Significant improvement of daytime hypercapnia can be achieved with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Bi-level PAP is generally employed with the goal of improving ventilation. A 50-year-old woman with OHS and severe hypercapnia was successfully treated with an auto titrating continuous PAP (Auto-CPAP) device. The major role in the pathogenesis of daytime hypercapnia in patients with OHS, is the progressive accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) caused by repetitive obstructive events at night, which can be eliminated with the low cost approach of …