Nattapong Jaimchariyatam1, Warangkana Tantipornsinchai2, Tayard Desudchit3, Sutep Gonlachanvit4. 1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Excellence Center for Sleep Disorders, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: drboy48@yahoo.com. 2. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. 3. Excellence Center for Sleep Disorders, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand; Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. 4. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Literature has addressed the increased prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Significant improvement of GERD has been found after OSA treatment. However, precise mechanisms underlying this correlation remain unclear. We examined the association between nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and sleep events in patients with coexisting OSA and GERD. METHODS: A case-crossover study among 12 patients with coexisting moderate-severe OSA and GERD was conducted. Participants underwent simultaneous polysomnography and esophageal impedance and pH monitoring. GER subtypes (ie, acid reflux, non-acid reflux) were defined as outcomes. Respective control time points were selected in all eligible control periods. Each sleep event was assessed individually. Estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Patients were determined as moderate to severe OSA (respiratory disturbance index of 42.66 [±22.09]). There were a total of 50 GER episodes, 22 acid reflux and 28 non-acid reflux. Arousals and awakenings were significantly associated with subsequent GER events. The OR for GER following an arousal was 2.31 (95% CI 1.39-3.68; p < 0.001) and following an awakening was 3.71 (95% CI 1.81-7.63; p < 0.001). GER events were significantly less likely to occur after other respiratory events (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.18-0.82]; p = 0.01). No sleep events followed GER events (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both awakening and arousal appear to precipitate any subtype of GER events in patients with coexisting GERD and moderate to severe OSA. However, GER events were significantly less likely to occur after other respiratory events and did not appear to cause sleep-related events.
BACKGROUND: Literature has addressed the increased prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Significant improvement of GERD has been found after OSA treatment. However, precise mechanisms underlying this correlation remain unclear. We examined the association between nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and sleep events in patients with coexisting OSA and GERD. METHODS: A case-crossover study among 12 patients with coexisting moderate-severe OSA and GERD was conducted. Participants underwent simultaneous polysomnography and esophageal impedance and pH monitoring. GER subtypes (ie, acid reflux, non-acid reflux) were defined as outcomes. Respective control time points were selected in all eligible control periods. Each sleep event was assessed individually. Estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS:Patients were determined as moderate to severe OSA (respiratory disturbance index of 42.66 [±22.09]). There were a total of 50 GER episodes, 22 acid reflux and 28 non-acid reflux. Arousals and awakenings were significantly associated with subsequent GER events. The OR for GER following an arousal was 2.31 (95% CI 1.39-3.68; p < 0.001) and following an awakening was 3.71 (95% CI 1.81-7.63; p < 0.001). GER events were significantly less likely to occur after other respiratory events (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.18-0.82]; p = 0.01). No sleep events followed GER events (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both awakening and arousal appear to precipitate any subtype of GER events in patients with coexisting GERD and moderate to severe OSA. However, GER events were significantly less likely to occur after other respiratory events and did not appear to cause sleep-related events.