Esophageal function and gastroesophageal reflux during sleep and waking in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study was conducted to assess esophageal function and pulmonary resistance changes with esophageal acidification in patients with COPD. Twelve patients with COPD and a mean age of 55.6 years were studied.

Persistent hypoxemia and excessive daytime sleepiness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Fourteen patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic hypoxemia were studied to evaluate the relationship between hypoxemia and objective and subjective daytime sleepiness. Patients were selected with a waking PaO2 of less than 70 mm Hg and less than 50 percent predicted FEV1. Clinically, none of these patients had complaints of significant daytime sleepiness.