title: Does night-shift work induce apnea events in obstructive sleep apnea patients?
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the direct effect of night-work on the occurrence of obstructive apneas during sleep after a night shift in fast-rotating shift workers with sleep-related breathing disorders. Eight obstructive sleep apnea patients were examined with the use of a polysomnograph during sleep under two conditions: after day-shift work and after night-shift work. Both sleep studies were conducted within 2 to 3 weeks of each other. In four of the 8 subjects, during sleep after a night-shift, an increase in apnea/hypopnea index was found. Night work significantly increased several breathing variables: total duration of obstructive apneas during REM sleep, mean duration of obstructive apneas during arousal, and apnea index during arousal. We conclude that in a subpopulation of sleep apnea patients, acute sleep deprivation may worsen obstructive sleep apnea index.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus-Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laudencka
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Klawe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tafil-Klawe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Złomańczuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012119:Respiration; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance