title: Oximetry Signal Processing Identifies REM Sleep-Related Vulnerability Trait in Asthmatic Children.
abstract: Rationale. The sleep-related factors that modulate the nocturnal worsening of asthma in children are poorly understood. This study addressed the hypothesis that asthmatic children have a REM sleep-related vulnerability trait that is independent of OSA. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of pulse-oximetry signals obtained during REM and NREM sleep in control and asthmatic children (n = 134). Asthma classification was based on preestablished clinical criteria. Multivariate linear regression model was built to control for potential confounders (significance level P ≤ 0.05). Results. Our data demonstrated that (1) baseline nocturnal respiratory parameters were not significantly different in asthmatic versus control children, (2) the maximal % of SaO2 desaturation during REM, but not during NREM, was significantly higher in asthmatic children, and (3) multivariate analysis revealed that the association between asthma and REM-related maximal % SaO2 desaturation was independent of demographic variables. Conclusion. These results demonstrate that children with asthma have a REM-related vulnerability trait that impacts oxygenation independently of OSA. Further research is needed to delineate the REM sleep neurobiological mechanisms that modulate the phenotypical expression of nocturnal asthma in children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
authors.forename: Geovanny F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Shehlanoor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huseni
authors.forename: Khrisna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pancham
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Martinez
authors.forename: Cesar L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nino
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nino