Preliminary prospective explanatory observation on the impact of 3-month steroid therapy on the objective measures of sleep-disordered breathing.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Excess endogenous steroids are a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The role of exogenous steroids in this setup is not known. In this study, we prospectively looked at the consequences of a 3-month steroid treatment on the objective measures of sleep-disordered breathing.

METHODS:

Patients scheduled for long-term steroids treatment underwent two sleep studies, the first before initiation and the second after 3 months of steroid therapy. Their weight and neck girth were measured. Correlations between the changes in the body weight, neck girth, and cumulative steroids dose to apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) change were examined. A group of untreated mild OSA patients (n = 23) served as control.

RESULTS:

Seventeen patients, five males and 12 females, mean age 52.4 ± 12.6 years, were studied. Fifteen patients increased their mean AHI by 56% from 9.8 ± 11.8 to 15.4 ± 15.8, p = 0.004. This increment was significantly higher when compared to the control group. Body weight and neck girth changes and cumulative steroid dose were not correlated to the AHI increment (Spearman's correlation coefficient r = 0.18 and p = 0.49, r = -0.23 and p = 0.37, r = -0.17 and p = 0.51, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

We found that the objective measures of sleep-disordered breathing worsened after the 3-month steroid treatment. Future studies to define pertinent mechanisms and clinical relevance are warranted.

• Authors: Gidon Berger, Emilia Hardak, Beatrice Shaham, Emili Avitan, Mordechai Yigla
• Journal: Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung (Sleep Breath) Vol. 16 Issue 2 Pg. 549-53 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1522-1709 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 21755279 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Prednisone

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Body Size (drug effects)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Disease Progression
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck
• Polysomnography (drug effects)
• Prednisone (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Prospective Studies
• Sleep Apnea, Obstructive (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Sleep, REM (drug effects)
• Statistics as Topic