Time course of hospitalizations in patients with heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease around sleep-disordered-breathing diagnosis.

Purpose: In heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) populations, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with impaired health outcomes. We evaluated whether in patients with HF, concomitant HF and COPD or COPD, the number of hospitalizations would be reduced in the year after testing for SDB with and without treatment initiation compared to the year before.

Methods: We performed a multicentre retrospective study of 390 consecutive sleep-clinic patients who had a primary diagnosis of chronic HF, HF and COPD or COPD and a secondary diagnosis of SDB.

Effects of Mask Change/Renewal on Adherence to Positive Airway Pressure Therapy: Analysis of a Large Telemedicine Database.

Rationale: Adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is a common and challenging issue. Although some studies have looked at the impact of initial mask selection, there is a lack of data regarding the impact of a change in mask on adherence to PAP therapy.

Objective(s): This study investigated the impact of a mask change or renewal on mid-term PAP adherence.

Stated patient preferences for overnight at-home diagnostic assessment of sleep disorders.

Purpose: The diagnostic workup for assessment of sleep disorders commonly involves overnight testing to assess sleep patterns and pathological events. So far, little is known about preferences for provision of home sleep tests to patients with sleep disorders. This study aims to close this gap by eliciting preferences for home sleep testing using a discrete choice experiment (DCE).

Validation of the Sleepiz One + as a radar-based sensor for contactless diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Purpose: The cardiorespiratory polysomnography (PSG) is an expensive and limited resource. The Sleepiz One + is a novel radar-based contactless monitoring device that can be used e.g.

Positive airway pressure telehealth models and long-term therapy termination: a healthcare database analysis.

Background: Telemonitoring-guided interventions can improve short-term positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy adherence, but long-term effects are unknown. This study investigated long-term PAP therapy termination in patients with sleep apnoea managed with standard care, telemonitoring-guided proactive care or telemonitoring-guided proactive care + patient engagement tool.

Methods: German healthcare provider data were analysed retrospectively.

Patient-reported experience with hypoglossal nerve stimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Breathing-synchronized hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is routinely used as an alternative treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Significant and clinically relevant improvements in disease severity and OSA symptoms such as daytime sleepiness as well as overall quality of life have been reported in randomized-controlled trials and large real-world cohort studies. However, so far, few data exist on patient-reported experience with the treatment.

Patient-reported outcomes with hypoglossal nerve stimulation for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) has recently been introduced as an alternative treatment for patients with OSA. A large number of studies have demonstrated substantial changes in OSA with this therapy by reducing respiratory events and improving symptoms such as daytime sleepiness and quality of life. The objective of this review was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate patient-reported outcomes and experience with HNS therapy.

Prevalence and predictors of sleep-disordered breathing in chronic heart failure: the SchlaHF-XT registry.

Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a condition with increasing prevalence. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is an important co-morbidity in HFpEF. The SchlaHF-XT registry evaluated the sex-specific prevalence and predictors of SDB, including obstructive (OSA) and central sleep apnoea, in patients with HFpEF compared with heart failure with mildly reduced (HFmrEF) or reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction.

Global invasion history of the emerging plant pathogen Phytophthora multivora.

Background: global trade in living plants and plant material has significantly increased the geographic distribution of many plant pathogens. As a consequence, several pathogens have been first found and described in their introduced range where they may cause severe damage on naïve host species. Knowing the center of origin and the pathways of spread of a pathogen is of importance for several reasons, including identifying natural enemies and reducing further spread.

Patient preferences in obstructive sleep apnea-a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common chronic sleep disorders, which can be treated by different interventions. It is known that acceptance and adherence to these therapies is influenced by a variety of factors. However, there is a limited understanding of patient preferences and decision-making in the context of OSA treatment.

Treatment preferences and willingness to pay in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: relevance of treatment experience.

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) most commonly receive positive airway pressure therapy (PAP) as primary treatment, which is highly effective when used consistently. Little is known about the preferences for and relevance of attributes of OSA treatments, especially of non-PAP alternatives. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) among patients with and without previous experience of OSA therapies.

Telehealth and its implementation in respiratory sleep medicine.

Purpose Of Review: The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the technological progress in digitization is also essential for the medical sector. In the field of sleep-disordered breathing, the novel eHealth methods already do offer smart solutions for currently insufficiently addressed problems.

Recent Findings: In general, the potential of telemedicine tools can be focused on three basic aspects: interaction between clinicians, interaction between clinician and patient, and interaction between patient and the mobile health technology.

Effects of optimized heart failure medication on central sleep apnea with Cheyne-Stokes respiration pattern in chronic heart failure with reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction.

Central Sleep Apnea with Cheyne Stokes Respiration (CSA-CSR) is often diagnosed in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). CSA-CSR displays a periodic breathing pattern with a typical waxing and waning breathing with central sleep apnea phases in between. Optimization of heart failure medication with Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibition (ARNi) can effect phenotypic traits of CSA-CSR indicating improvements of both, hemodynamic parameters and central chemosensitivity.

Sleep - the yet underappreciated player in cardiovascular diseases: A clinical review from the German Cardiac Society Working Group on Sleep Disordered Breathing.

Patients with a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases, including arterial and pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease and heart failure, are more likely to report impaired sleep with reduced sleep duration and quality, and also, sometimes, sleep interruptions because of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea or arrhythmias. Overall, objective short sleep and bad sleep quality (non-restorative sleep) and subjective long sleep duration are clearly associated with major cardiovascular diseases and fatal cardiovascular outcomes. Sleep apnoea, either obstructive or central in origin, represents the most prevalent, but only one, of many sleep-related disorders in cardiovascular patients.

The prediction of obstructive sleep apnea severity based on anthropometric and Mallampati indices.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common health issue with serious complications. Regarding the high cost of the polysomnography (PSG), sensitive and inexpensive screening tools are necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of anthropometric and Mallampati indices for OSA severity in both genders.

Comparison of Therapeutic Approaches to Addicted Patients with Central Sleep Apnea.

Background: Nowadays, the most practical approaches used to treat sleep apnea, are Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure therapy (BPAP), supplemental O, servoventilation and/or a combination of these approaches simultaneously. However, each leads to different consequences in opioid related Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) patients. Given the high prevalence of CSA and frequently use of opioids worldwide, it seems that evaluation of the condition in these patients is required to determine their responsiveness to the above mentioned treatments and to choose the most appropriate therapy.

Detection of a Conspecific Mycovirus in Two Closely Related Native and Introduced Fungal Hosts and Evidence for Interspecific Virus Transmission.

is a native fungus in Europe where it behaves as a harmless decomposer of leaves of common ash. Its close relative was introduced into Europe from Asia and currently threatens ash ( sp.) stands all across the continent causing ash dieback.

Is dynamic desaturation better than a static index to quantify the mortality risk in heart failure patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration?

Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) is a periodic, highly dynamic, respiratory pattern and a known comorbidity in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. It is generally seen as an indicator for a negative prognosis, even if no distinction in degree is known or understood. This paper aims to improve on existing attempts by creating a quantification of the behavior of the dynamic desaturation process of oxygen in the blood.

Comparison of Berlin Questionnaire, STOP-Bang, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Persian Patients.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by snoring, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and repeated termination of airflow (apnea). Standard polysomnography (PSG) is diagnostic gold standard for OSA. PSG is expensive and not available everywhere.

Population genetic analysis of a parasitic mycovirus to infer the invasion history of its fungal host.

Hymenoscyphus fraxineus mitovirus 1 (HfMV1) occurs in the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, an introduced plant pathogen responsible for the devastating ash dieback epidemic in Europe. Here, we explored the prevalence and genetic structure of HfMV1 to elucidate the invasion history of both the virus and the fungal host. A total of 1298 H.