April 2007

Did You Celebrate National Sleep Week?
Did your facility do anything special for this year's National Sleep Week? If so, please consider sharing your activities with your fellow section members by writing a short article for our quarterly Section Bulletin. Submissions may be made via E-MAIL to our Bulletin editor, Suzanne Bollig. If you have photos of your event, please send them to Suzanne as well and we'll select a few to run with your article.

OSA Linked to SBI
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to an increased risk for silent brain infarction (SBI) in a new study out of Japan. Researchers looked at 65 men, finding those with moderate to severe OSA had more brain lesions on brain scans and elevated levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) when compared to men with mild or no OSA. Further analysis of 24 patients with moderate to severe OSA who had been treated with CPAP for three months showed a significant reduction in both sCD40L and sP-selectin. The authors conclude, “These results suggest that serum levels of sCD40L and sP-selectin are elevated and SBI is more common in patients with moderate to severe OSA, leading to elevated cerebrovascular morbidity. Moreover, nCPAP may be useful for decreasing risk in patients with moderate to severe OSA.” READ ABSTRACT

CMS Asks for Comments on Home Sleep Testing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently opened a 30 day comment period for health providers to weigh in on the use of multi-channel home sleep testing devices as an alternative to laboratory-based sleep studies for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The move came in response to a request from the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). READ THE AAO-HNS LETTER
VIEW THE CMS TRACKING SHEET

BRPT to Require Completion of Training Modules to Sit for Exam
The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) has changed its eligibility requirements for “6-month” and “18-month” candidates for its registry exam. Beginning in July 2008, eligible candidates must submit proof of completion of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's A-STEP self-learning modules, or an equivalent educational program, with their application. The requirement applies to all candidates, including allied health practitioners with other credentials, including the respiratory therapy credentials. According to the BRPT, “This new requirement will help address and formalize a standardized approach to the training and education for candidates that sit for the BRPT examination with an experiential component as part of their eligibility.” The A-STEP program consists of 12 web-based polysomnographic training modules. READ PRESS RELEASE

Sleep Disturbances Linked to Markers of Heart Disease
A new study out of the University of California San Diego suggests sleep disturbances may serve as markers of prothrombotic cardiovascular risks. Investigators measured morning fasting plasma levels of von Willebrand Factor (VWF), soluble tissue factor (sTF), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and D-dimer in 135 patients with no history of sleep disorders. All underwent overnight polysomnography. Results linked VWF and sTF to measures of sleep fragmentation and sleep efficiency, and PAI-1 to apnea-related measures. The study appeared in the March issue of CHEST. READ PRESS RELEASE

Upcoming Educational Opportunities from the AARC

• Webcast: Patient Literacy , Aug. 15, one free CRCE for AARC members.
• Summer Meetings: July 12-17 , Reno/Lake Tahoe, NV
• AARC International Respiratory Congress: Dec. 1-4 , Orlando, FL