Somatostatin analog treatment is associated with an increased sleep latency in patients with long-term biochemical remission of acromegaly.

Background: Somatostatin analogs induce alterations in sleep in healthy adults. Presently, it is unknown whether somatostatin analog treatment affects sleep parameters in patients with acromegaly.

Design: Case-control study.

Patients And Measurements: We assessed sleepiness and sleep patterns in 62 adult patients (32 men, age 61 years (33-88 years) controlled by surgery alone or postoperative radiotherapy (69%), and/or somatostatin analogs (31%). We used two validated sleep questionnaires (Epworth sleepiness score and Münchener chronotype questionnaire). Patient outcomes were compared to controls.

Results: Sleep duration and timing of sleep were not different in patients compared to controls. However, sleepiness score was increased in all patients compared to controls: 6 (1-20) vs. 4 (0-14), P=0.014 (median (range)), reflecting increased daytime sleepiness. Snoring was reported in 68% of both patients and controls (P=0.996), observed apnoea's and restless legs in 23% and 37% of patients compared to 12% and 21% of controls (P=0.062 and P=0.031, resp.). In addition, sleep latency was increased in patients treated by somatostatin analogs compared to patients cured by surgery and/ or radiotherapy (52+/-48 min vs. 26+/-40 min, P=0.005), resulting in a delayed sleep onset (24:08+/-1:26 h vs. 23:25+/-0:43 h, P=0.053). Sleep duration was unaffected.

Conclusions: Daytime sleepiness is increased in a homogeneous cohort of patients in long-term remission from acromegaly. In addition, somatostatin analog treatment increases sleep latency and delays sleep onset in patients with long-term biochemical control of growth hormone overproduction without altering total sleep duration.