title: Sleep-related breathing disorders in patients who are critically ill.
abstract: This descriptive study describes the frequency and severity of sleep-related breathing disorders in men who are hemodynamically stable who have an acute cardiovascular illness and are hospitalized in a critical care unit. Sixty-four males, aged 55-79 years, with an acute cardiovascular illness, stable hemodynamics, and no ongoing chest pain or history of sleep apnea were studied for 1 night in the critical care unit using polysomnography. Forty-seven percent of the sample had an apnea-hypopnea index > or = 5, with events of both obstructive and central etiologies, including Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Oxygen desaturation to < or = 90% occurred in 61% of the sample. There were no episodes of chest pain, ventricular tachycardia, or heart block associated with apneic or hypopneic events; however, dysrhythmias, including sinus bradycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, and premature ventricular beats, were associated with apneic and hypopneic events.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D002639:Cheyne-Stokes Respiration / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016638:Critical Illness; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020182:Sleep Apnea, Central / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis