Pulmonary Function and Sleep Apnea

Victor Hoffstein; Zoe Oliver

doi:10.1055/s-2003-814761

Sleep and Breathing, Table of Contents

Sleep Breath 2003; 07(4): 159-166
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-814761

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Pulmonary Function and Sleep Apnea

Victor Hoffstein, Zoe Oliver

Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between pulmonary function measured during wakefulness and sleep apnea. We prospectively studied 1296 patients, who were free of any lung disease, referred to our sleep clinic for evaluation of possible sleep apnea. All patients had in-hospital nocturnal polysomnography and pulmonary function measurements, which included flow-volume curve, body plethysmography, and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. The results were analyzed by comparing pulmonary function data between four groups of patients, grouped according to apnea severity as reflected by their apnea/hypopnea index: nonapneics (apnea-hypopnea index ≤ 10), mild apnea (10 < apnea-hypopnea index ≤ 30), moderate apnea (30 < apnea-hypopnea index ≤ 50), and severe apnea (apnea-hypopnea index > 50). Analysis of covariance demonstrated no difference in any of the pulmonary function parameters between the four groups, after adjusting for age, body mass index, or weight as the covariate. We conclude that in nonsmoking patients without lung disease, sleep apnea is unrelated to pulmonary function measured during wakefulness.

KEYWORDS

Sleep apnea - pulmonary function - spirometry - body plethysmography - diffusing capacity - polysomnography

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