M Konermann1, G Lück, B Rawert, W Pirsig. 1. Medizinische Klinik, Marienkrankenhaus Kassel, akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Patients with asthma bronchiale often complain of exacerbations during the night. Some anti-asthmatic drugs are known to impair the quality of sleep. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to prove the effect of the long-acting, inhaled beta-2-agonist formoterol on the quality of sleep in patients with mild or moderate asthma bronchiale. METHODS:20 patients with asthma bronchiale (15 female, 21-75 years, O 33.3 years) without sleep disorder were evaluated by polysomnography during 3 nights. After one adaptation night, the patients were randomly assigned 24 micrograms of formoterol during one and placebo during the other night. The frequency of respiratory disturbances, arousals, sleep latency, sleep stages, sleep efficiency, motoric activity, and subjective impression of sleep quality were compared in both groups. RESULTS:Respiratory disturbances were less, and the subjective impression of sleep quality was better with formoterol in 50% of the patients. The objective quality of sleep was slightly better with formoterol, but not significant (Tab. 1). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with mild or moderate asthma bronchiale, formoterol does not impair, probably slightly improves the quality of sleep.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Patients with asthma bronchiale often complain of exacerbations during the night. Some anti-asthmatic drugs are known to impair the quality of sleep. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to prove the effect of the long-acting, inhaled beta-2-agonist formoterol on the quality of sleep in patients with mild or moderate asthma bronchiale. METHODS: 20 patients with asthma bronchiale (15 female, 21-75 years, O 33.3 years) without sleep disorder were evaluated by polysomnography during 3 nights. After one adaptation night, the patients were randomly assigned 24 micrograms of formoterol during one and placebo during the other night. The frequency of respiratory disturbances, arousals, sleep latency, sleep stages, sleep efficiency, motoric activity, and subjective impression of sleep quality were compared in both groups. RESULTS:Respiratory disturbances were less, and the subjective impression of sleep quality was better with formoterol in 50% of the patients. The objective quality of sleep was slightly better with formoterol, but not significant (Tab. 1). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with mild or moderate asthma bronchiale, formoterol does not impair, probably slightly improves the quality of sleep.