title: Lower frequency of obstructive sleep apnea in spondyloarthritis patients taking TNF-inhibitors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sleep disturbances, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), commonly limit function and quality of life in people with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Systemic inflammation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of both OSA and SpA, and suppression of inflammation with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) inhibitors may decrease OSA severity. In this study, we compared the frequency of OSA in patients receiving and not receiving TNF-inhibitor therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 63 consecutively screened veterans with SpA. Participant interviews, examinations, chart reviews, and referrals to the Salt Lake City Veteran Affairs (SLCVA) Sleep Center were used to obtain demographic data, comorbidities, SpA features, therapy data, and sleep study outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OSA occurred in 76% of SpA patients. OSA was less common in patients receiving TNF-inhibitor therapy (57%), compared to patients not receiving TNF-inhibitor therapy (91%) (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSA is underrecognized in veterans with SpA, and TNF-inhibition was associated with a lower frequency of OSA.
authors.affiliation: George E. Wahlen Veteran Affairs Medical Center, University of Utah, Division of Rheumatology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. jessica.walsh@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Kristina Callis
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Duffin
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crim
authors.forename: Daniel O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Clegg
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha