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May 2007
Notes from the Section
- The Spring issue of the Sleep Section Bulletin is ONLINE now, with articles on surviving the night shift, restless leg syndrome, and health literacy and the sleep patient.
- The section web site has a great new feature: an online ARCHIVE containing past issues of the E-Bulletin.
Open Forum Deadline Coming Up June 1
The AARC International Respiratory Congress, scheduled for Dec. 1-4 in Orlando, FL, will feature 18 Open Forums, providing a great way for attendees to share the results of their original research and/or case studies. The deadline for submitting an abstract or case report for the 2007 sessions, however, is quickly approaching – June 1, 2007. So take a few moments to LEARN MORE about the online submission process, and then consider how you can share results of your work with your peers via the 2007 Open Forum.
Sleep Apnea Common in People with Pacemakers
French researchers who tested 98 people who were using pacemakers to treat heart problems find two out of three were also suffering from sleep apnea. Twenty-one patients were diagnosed with severe sleep apnea while another 36 showed mild signs of the condition. What’s more, patients in the latter group were identified only through polysomnography — they were not experiencing common signs of sleep apnea such as snoring and sleepiness. The authors stop short of calling for all pacemaker patients to be tested for sleep apnea but do believe a tool is needed to help identify patients at highest risk so they may be tested and treated. They also believe treatment for sleep apnea might help restore normal heart rhythm in some people, negating the need for the pacemaker. READ ARTICLE
Heart Failure Patients More Likely to Have Sleep Apnea Too
The previous article suggests sleep apnea is common in pacemaker patients. The same is likely true for heart failure patients, report Canadian researchers who studied 164 patients referred to their Heart Failure Clinic. Polysomnography results showed 37 patients had untreated moderate-to-severe sleep apnea and another 14 had treated disease. The remaining patients either had no signs of sleep apnea, or a mild form of the condition not requiring treatment. Over a three year follow up, patients with sleep apnea were twice as likely to die as those without the condition. The authors believe these findings suggest a larger study is needed to determine whether sleep apnea treatment could improve survival for heart failure patients. READ ABSTRACT
FDA Calls for Stiffer Warnings on Sleep Medication Labels
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking makers of sedative-hypnotic drug products used to treat sleep problems to strengthen warnings related to the risks these medications can pose to patients, such as severe allergic reactions and complex sleep-related behaviors like sleep-driving. The move came after the FDA reviewed post marketing adverse event information on these medications. The government agency is asking manufacturers to send letters to health care professionals notifying them about the new warnings and develop Patient Medication Guides to help inform consumers about the risks. READ PRESS RELEASE for more information and a list of the specific medications involved.
New Roundtable to Address Sleep Education and Awareness
The National Sleep Foundation is teaming up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to spearhead a new coalition of government, professional, voluntary, and other organizations aimed at raising awareness about sleep disorders. Organizations in the National Sleep Awareness Roundtable have agreed to:
- Increase public awareness about sleep, sleep disorders, and consequences of sleep deprivation
- Promote science-based public policies that improve the sleep health of the nation
- Advance basic, clinical, applied, and population-based research
- Promote recognition of and access to care for all individuals with sleep disorders
READ PRESS RELEASE
Upcoming Educational Opportunities from the AARC
- AARC International Respiratory Congress: Dec. 1-4, Orlando, FL
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