Abstract | STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether (1) postmenopausal women have a higher apnea threshold than premenopausal women and men and (2) hormone replacement therapy would decrease the apnea threshold in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Protocol #1: Analysis of a prospectively collected database of 55 subjects who had undergone an apnea-threshold protocol. Protocol #2: Intervention study: apnea threshold compared in 6 postmenopausal women before and after 30 days of replacement therapy with progestin and estrogen. SETTING: Research sleep laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: INTERVENTIONS: MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The change in the end-tidal CO2 at the apnea threshold was highest in the premenopausal women (4.6+/-0.6 mm Hg), with no difference between the postmenopausal women (3.1+/-0.5 mm Hg) and men (3.4+/-0.7 mm Hg). Determinants of the change in endtidal CO2 at the apnea threshold included sex and menopause status. Hormone replacement therapy increased the change in end-tidal CO2 at the apnea threshold from 2.9+/-0.4 mm Hg to 4.8+/-0.4 mm Hg (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that estrogens and progestins positively influence the apnea threshold and control of breathing during non-rapid eye movement sleep.
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Authors | James A Rowley, Xusong S Zhou, Michael P Diamond, M Safwan Badr |
Journal | Sleep
(Sleep)
Vol. 29
Issue 1
Pg. 95-103
(Jan 2006)
ISSN: 0161-8105 [Print] United States |
PMID | 16453986
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Estrogens
- Carbon Dioxide
- Progesterone
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Topics |
- Carbon Dioxide
(metabolism)
- Estrogens
(therapeutic use)
- Female
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
(methods)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Postmenopause
(physiology)
- Progesterone
(therapeutic use)
- Prospective Studies
- Severity of Illness Index
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
(diagnosis, drug therapy)
- Sleep Stages
(physiology)
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