Does race-ethnicity affect upper airway stimulation adherence and treatment outcome of obstructive sleep apnea?

Study Objectives: Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, decreased quality of life, and cardiovascular disease. Positive airway pressure is the first-line therapy for OSA; however, adherence is difficult. Upper airway stimulation is a Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment of OSA.

Incidence and risk factors of chronic opioid use after sleep apnea surgery.

Study Objectives: To assess the incidence and risk factors of chronic opioid use after obstructive sleep apnea surgery.

Methods: Using IBM MarketScan research database, adults (>18 years) who underwent a variety of sleep surgery procedures between 2007 and 2015 were identified. Individuals with 1 year of insurance coverage before and after the surgical procedure were included.

Racial Disparities in Surgical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objective: Determine risk factors for failure to receive surgical treatment among patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Design: Population-based observational longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Population-based database.

Use of Polysomnography and CPAP in Children Who Received Adenotonsillectomy, US 2004 to 2018.

Objectives: 1) To determine the prevalence polysomnogram (PSG) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy use in children who received adenotonsillectomy (AT) for sleep symptoms. 2) To identify health care disparities in these regards.

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Descriptors in Letters of Recommendation for Otolaryngology Residency Across Gender, Race, and Time.

Objective: To determine whether differences exist in the descriptors used in letters of recommendations for Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) residency candidates, comparing race and gender as depicted in visual letters of recommendation (VLORs) from the 2014 and 2019 application cycles.

Design: Four hundred thirty-three LORS (284 narrative LORs and 149 standardized LORs) and 63 medical student performance evaluations for 104 candidates who interviewed at the University of Cincinnati OHNS residency program in 2014 and 2019 were analyzed. Descriptors from LORs and medical student performance evaluations were collected by two reviewers and QSR NVivo 12 was used to generate a word cloud that grouped words by synonym and weighted them by frequency.

Polysomnographic Outcomes After Observation for Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children Younger Than 3 Years.

Objective: Mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly in young children, is often treated with observation. However, there is little evidence regarding the outcomes with this approach. Our aim was to assess the impact of observation on sleep for children aged <3 years with mild OSA.

The Long "Race" to Diversity in Otolaryngology.

The number of health disparities disproportionately affecting minority communities continue to rise. Thus, it is imperative to assess whether equity within medical school enrollment and along the academic pipeline has mirrored this growth, especially among elite surgical specialties such as otolaryngology. Census and educational data from 2010 and 2018 were used to assess the current otolaryngology, surgery, and internal medicine physician and faculty workforce diversity across each stage of the academic medicine trajectory by race and ethnicity.

Children with Down syndrome and mild OSA: treatment with medication versus observation.

Study Objectives: Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Anti-inflammatory medications have been shown to be an effective treatment for mild OSA in otherwise healthy children. However, the efficacy in children with DS and mild OSA has not been investigated.

Are Standardized Letters of Recommendation in Residency Applications Correlated With Objective Data?

Objective: To evaluate whether the standardized letter of recommendation (SLOR), commonly used for medical students applying to otolaryngology residency, correlates with objective data in the application.

Background: Standardized letters of recommendation using Likert-type scales for different attributes are commonly used by evaluators because of their high interrater reliability and efficiency in preparation and interpretation. Given that these are subjectively scored, it is unknown how well these correlate with objective data.

Outcomes in children with down syndrome and mild obstructive sleep apnea treated non-surgically.

Objectives: Nasal steroids, oral anti-leukotrienes and supplemental oxygen are effective in the treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in otherwise healthy children. However, their efficacy is unknown in children with Down syndrome (DS). Here we examine the effect of single medication therapy versus observation versus oxygen on polysomnographic outcomes in these children.

Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Pediatric Patients With Rett Syndrome.

Study Objectives: Although respiratory abnormalities occurring during wakefulness are well recognized in patients with Rett syndrome (RS), less has been reported regarding sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in this population. This study aims to characterize the presenting complaints, types and severity of SDB, and treatment modalities of patients with RS and sleep concerns.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with RS referred to our academic tertiary care institution from January 2007 to July 2017.