title: Nocturnal desaturations in COPD: still an open question?
abstract: The relevance of sleep oxyhemoglobin desaturations in COPD patients is still a matter of debate. The best definition for clinical outcomes is the occurrence of episodes lasting at least 5 minutes and reaching SaO2 levels less than or equal to 85%. Focusing on longer and milder episodes (at least 30% of the night with SaO2 < 90%) did not provide clinical relevance. One possible consequence of desaturation episodes could be a worsening of pulmonary hemodynamics, but O2 dips could just be a marker of a mechanical derangement associated with a worse prognosis. Data confirming the association of these episodes with the clinical type of COPD and with inflammatory mediator modulation are still lacking.
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Division of Respiratory Disease, Scientific Institute of Veruno, 28010 Veruno, Italy. abraghiroli@fsm.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Braghiroli
mesh_terms: D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen