Hope Clinic’s Post

Epidemiologic study in Taiwan shows many Taiwanese suffer from sleep disorders and hence more sleep institutes are needed. Accreditation has become a mission of the Taiwan Society of Sleep Medicine. Technicians, sleep centers, sleep specialists and sleep phycologists are gradually certified by the society. 215 sleep technicians, 307 sleep physicians, 31 iCBT therapists and 21 sleep centers are certified by the society till 2015. The first sleep related medical courses are initiated in the Department of Respiratory Therapy in Chang Gung University from 2003. The sleep society is putting effort to increase the awareness and education around sleep disorders. #qualitysleep #sleep #sleepdisorder #patientcentricity #education #healthcareprofessionalseducation

⭐ How much does untreated sleep apnea cost your company annually? ⭐ Frost & Sullivan calculated that the annual economic burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea among U.S. adults is approximately $149.6 billion. The economic burden of untreated sleep apnea related to health issues is substantial due to the wide range of medical conditions associated with this sleep disorder. Here's a breakdown of some of the key health-related costs: ✅ Cardiovascular Diseases: Sleep apnea is strongly linked to cardiovascular problems such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. The costs associated with treating these conditions include hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, and ongoing management. Additionally, the increased risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes can lead to significant healthcare expenditures. ✅ Metabolic Disorders: Untreated sleep apnea is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The economic burden includes the costs of diabetes management, including medications, blood sugar monitoring supplies, doctor visits, and potential complications such as diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and kidney disease. ✅ Neurological Disorders: Sleep apnea has been associated with cognitive impairment, memory problems, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The economic impact includes healthcare costs related to neurology consultations, diagnostic tests, cognitive assessments, and long-term care for individuals with dementia. Respiratory Disorders: Sleep apnea can exacerbate pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The economic burden encompasses the costs of managing these respiratory diseases, including medications, inhalers, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and emergency room visits. ✅ Mental Health Disorders: Sleep apnea is linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. The economic impact includes healthcare costs associated with psychiatric evaluations, counseling or therapy sessions, psychiatric medications, and hospitalizations for acute mental health crises. ✅ Complications and Comorbidities: Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to a range of other health issues, including obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic pain conditions. The economic burden extends to the costs of managing these complications, including weight management programs, gastrointestinal medications, and pain management strategies. #WatchPAT #HealthandWellness #HST #OSA #CSA #HumanResources https://lnkd.in/gTW4vxK2.

Sleep problems are highly prevalent in elderly population and insomnia being the most common sleep disorder among the geriatrics. According to International Classification of sleep disorders, third edition, Insomnia is defined a acute or chronic sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, early morning awakening that occur at a minimum of three nights per week, for three months and are associated with significant daytime consequences. The aim of the study to assess the effectiveness of chair based exercise on level of sleep among senior citizens. Quantitative research approach and experimental research design was adopted for the present study.30 samples were selected by using non probability purposive sampling technique. A structured questionaries’ was used to collect demographic variable. IN clinical variable Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used to assess sleep quality among senior citizen. by Sheela | David. F. J. "Assess the Effectiveness of Chair Based Exercises on Level of Sleep among Senior Citizens" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-7 | Issue-5 , October 2023, URL: https://lnkd.in/dRF26R9A Paper Url: https://lnkd.in/dRZFD6tT

Combination of therapies presents a new way to treat sleep apnea Link: https://lnkd.in/gCAAJT7w Professor Danny Eckert, Director at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health: Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute Sleep Health Research Program, says his research team has examined shortcomings in some people's response to the popular continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) and found that adding combinations of therapies gets impressive results in those who are unable to tolerate CPAP. Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is an effective treatment for many people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but does not fully control OSA in about 50% of cases. This study aimed to control OSA in individuals who have an incomplete response to using only OAT, with the solution being to use additional targeted therapies informed by each individual's specific causes of OSA known as "endotype" characterization. The research, "Stepwise Add-on and Endotype-informed Targeted Combination Therapy to Treat Obstructive Sleep apnea: A Proof-of-Concept Study," has been published by Annals of the American Thoracic Society. "Rather than everyone first trying CPAP—for whom we know at least 50% will fail—we flipped the model on its head and gave everyone a dental split in the first instance," explains Professor Eckert. "This tends to be much better tolerated than CPAP, though it is less efficacious overall, as it works in about 50% of people." #sleep #sleepapnea #sleephealth #sleep2023 #oralappliance #comesa #healthcare #health #osa #cpap #wellness

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects patients’ quality of life and increases their risk for cardiovascular events and mental health problems. In the United States, sleep apnea affects an estimated 25 to 30 percent of men, and 9 to 17 percent of women. The prevalence in non-white populations is even higher. PAP, positive airway pressure, is the most effective treatment of adults with sleep apnea. However, after the first month, adherence wanes significantly. “PAP is first-line therapy for OSA, and while it’s incredibly effective, it needs to be used to have benefits,” says Anna May, MD, MS, pulmonologist in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. “People who are disadvantaged by race, socioeconomic status or disabilities have lower experience of positive airway pressure. We need to determine how to redefine and improve adherence.” The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) defines adherence and states that within the first 90 days of PAP therapy, patients must have a 30-day period of using the CPAP device for at least four hours for 70 percent of nights. Failure to meet this threshold requires another sleep study to requalify for PAP therapy, which, says Dr May, is not a good use of medical resources. "We need to learn how to redefine adherence to be more patient-centered and improve adherence. This includes personalized, patient-centered targets based on benefits that account for a multitude of factors, such as individual habitual sleep times, instead of broad one-size-fits-all adherence thresholds, and the recognition that disadvantaged patients have worse sleep quality and don’t sleep as much." To read more, please visit https://lnkd.in/g_VPDkWr    #obstructivesleepapnea #healthysleep #patientsfirst

Positive study results in 298 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) Hamburg, Mar 11, 2024 – Desitin, an expert in neurological and psychiatric therapeutics, reports positive study results from the FLOW study with 298 patients: Nocturnal breathing pauses in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were significantly reduced, thus meeting the primary endpoint of the study. With these positive results, a reliable basis for the final clinical phase 3 development of the first oral treatment for OSA has been established. While OSA has serious health implications, only around a third of all patients use the gold standard therapy of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) long-term.1 There is a high medical need for alternative treatment options and the market for sleep apnea therapy is growing with currently about 425 million patients affected worldwide.2 Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep and makes up over 90 % of all sleep-related breathing disorders.3 Worldwide, an estimated 425 million people between the ages of 30 and 69 are affected by at least a moderate form (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≤ 15).2 The condition leads to repeated pauses in breathing during the night, resulting in sleep disturbances and insufficient oxygenation. During the day, patients are more likely to suffer from fatigue, impaired cognitive function, and a reduced quality of life.2 The long-term consequences can be more serious, with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, stroke, heart attack) or diabetes.4 Despite the serious health risks, a recent study shows that OSA is significantly underdiagnosed.5 The standard therapy of CPAP is often rejected by patients or is not used over extended periods of time due to tolerability or application problems. A comprehensive meta-analysis found that around 34 % of patients do not use CPAP therapy adequately over the long-term.6 Other authors found even higher non-compliance rates.1 These results indicate a high medical need for new, effective, and patient-friendly treatment options. “Further educational work and new treatment options are urgently needed. We are pleased to have achieved positive results in this emerging field and are working towards helping patients over the long-term” says Philipp Bloching, Managing Director and CEO of Desitin Arzneimittel GmbH

I absolutely love to find out about people paying attention to their sleep, but I especially LOVE it when young adults are tuned in! Two months ago I saw a 21 year old, a senior in college, for consultation about oral appliance therapy. It wasn't much of his choice to tune into his sleep health - his dad was dialed in. I treated the dad, successfully, about five years ago. Now, he hears his son struggling with loud snoring and unrefreshing sleep and feels confident about a solution that will fit his son's lifestyle. After seeing a sleep physician and confirming a sleep apnea diagnosis, the son was ready for therapy. Although the sleep study showed very mild sleep apnea, he was very symptomatic. The chief complaints were "I want to reduce my snoring. I never feel rested and it's hard to get up out of bed." Today, we had our first telehealth follow up. A SomnoMed Avant oral appliance was delivered about two weeks ago - no complaints, very comfortable. Like many patients, we encourage the use of SnoreLab app for patient engagement. His snore score went from 84 to 23 within two weeks. He also reports feeling less tiredness upon waking up and improved energy during the day. This is an example of how a dentist can be an early stop on a patient's pathway to feeling better. I think this age group is often overlooked, but can be a critical time for healthcare providers to intervene as this population are preparing or just entering their professional career. As this patient is engaged and in tune with his sleep health, he will likely continue to pay attention, and there's only upside from here!

https://lnkd.in/g4i4E3Hm Exciting development. As always in sleep apnea care, it's crucial to look on details. As sleep docs, it's our responsibility to carefully consider these factors when evaluating treatment options for our patients; or the "Serviceable Obtainable Market" (SOM) - investor-speak for the most likely beneficiaries. "In trial 1 mean age of the participants was 47.9 years; most were male (67.1%) and White (65.8%), with a mean BMI of 39.1 and a mean AHI of 51.5 events per hour. In trial 2, the mean age was 51.7 years; most were male (72.3%) and White (73.1%), with a mean BMI of 38.7 and a mean AHI of 49.5 events per hour." My favorite part: "The reductions in AHI were also accompanied by meaningful improvements in hypoxic burden, which better captures the obstructive sleep apnea–related risk of cardiovascular complications and death" And my strongest wish: "the design and shorter duration of the current trials does not support the assessment of long-term cardiovascular outcomes. The ongoing SURMOUNT-Morbidity and Mortality in Obesity trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05556512) may provide additional information." Fingers crossed...

More than 900 million people worldwide are believed to have obstructive sleep apnoea. Much work is being done to investigate treatment options so that an individual may be matched with the most appropriate treatment for them. As published in the NEJM, Tirzepatide, a medication used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, was shown to effectively reduce breathing interruptions during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. The findings highlight tirzepatide's potential to address both respiratory and metabolic complications associated with OSA, offering a new therapeutic option beyond traditional treatments like CPAP therapy. Tirzepatide is one of the class of blockbuster GLP-1 medicines, sold as Mounjaro to manage diabetes and as Zepbound to help with weight loss. This study adds to the evidence that a drug targeting both apnoea and obesity is better than treating either condition on its own. Researchers said the drug therapy improved other aspects related to OSA, such as improving weight. Some patients, however, had mild stomach issues. Patients taking the medication lost 18% to 20% of their body weight.  https://lnkd.in/gYckZVgC

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by snoring, recurrent partial and or complete obstruction of the upper airway that is associated with episodes of intermittent nocturnal oxyhemoglobin desaturations, and sleep disruption. The aim of the study to assess the prevalence of sleep apnea and to evaluate the high blood pressure among obese children. A quantiative research approach with descriptive research design was adopted for the present study.100 samples were selected by using purposive sampling technique. A structured quettionaries was used to collect demographic variable. In clinical variable pediatric sleep quettionaries was used to collect data from obese children. BMI was calculated by checking height and weight of the children with range of 25 29.9 above. In result it shows that there is a significant association of sleep apnea and blood pressure among obese children. When systolic BP increases then the sleep apnea among obese children also increases. by Mary Minolin. T | Nabesha. B "Assess the Prevalence of Sleep Apnea as an Indicator of High Blood Pressure among Obese Children at Pediatric OPD, SMCH" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-7 | Issue-5 , October 2023, URL: https://lnkd.in/dAcpKQUi Paper Url: https://lnkd.in/dCPqvdyA