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Nocturia and snoring: predictive symptoms for obstructive sleep apnea

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Abstract

Purpose

Current screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) emphasizes self-reported snoring and other breathing symptoms. Nocturia, a symptom with a precise pathophysiological link to sleep apnea, has not been assessed as a screening tool for this common disorder of sleep respiration. In a large sample of adults presenting to area sleep centers, we aimed to determine the predictive power of nocturia for OSA and compare findings with other markers of OSA commonly used to screen for this disease.

Methods

This was a retrospective chart review. A consecutive sample of 1,007 adult patients seeking treatment at two sleep centers in New Mexico completed detailed medical and sleep history questionnaires and completed diagnostic polysomnography testing. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of nocturia, snoring, high body mass index, sex, and age for OSA were determined. Hierarchical linear regression determined unique variance contribution to the apnea–hypopnea index, the objective measure of sleep apnea severity.

Results

The results are as follows: sensitivities—snoring, 82.6% and nocturia, 84.8%; specificities—snoring, 43.0% and nocturia, 22.4%; PPVs—snoring, 84.7% and nocturia, 80.6%; and NPVs—snoring, 39.6% and nocturia, 27.9%. With hierarchical linear regression, patient-reported nocturia frequency predicted apnea–hypopnea index (OSA severity) above and beyond body mass index, sex, age, and self-reported snoring (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Nocturia appears comparable to snoring as a screening tool for OSA in patients presenting to a sleep medical center. Research in urology and primary care clinics is needed to definitively clarify the use of nocturia as a screening instrument for obstructive sleep apnea.

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Author contributions

The study concept and design were by Romero and Krakow; acquisition of data by Romero, Krakow, and Ulibarri; statistical analysis and data interpretation by Haynes, Romero, and Krakow; drafting of the manuscript by Romero, Krakow, and Haynes; critical revision of the manuscript by Romero, Krakow, Haynes, and Ulibarri; administrative, technical, or material support by Krakow, Haynes, and Ulibarri; and study supervision by Romero and Krakow. This work was supported by the Alpert Foundation, Oxnard Foundation, and Maimonides Sleep Arts and Sciences, Ltd. sleep facility.

Financial disclosure

Dr. Barry Krakow has 7 for-profit activities related to his work in sleep medicine. He owns and operates 3 websites that provide education and offer products and services for sleep disorders patients: www.nightmaretreatment.com, www.sleeptreatment.com, www.sleepdynamictherapy.com. He markets and sells 3 books for sleep disorders patients: Insomnia Cures, Turning Nightmares into Dreams, and Sound Sleep, Sound Mind. For clinical services, he owns and operates one commercial sleep center: Maimonides Sleep Arts & Sciences, Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sleep and Human Health Institute, 6739 Academy NE, Suite 380, Albuquerque, NM, 87109, USA

    Edward Romero, Barry Krakow & Victor Ulibarri

  2. Maimonides Sleep Arts and Sciences, Ltd., 6739 Academy NE, Suite 380, Albuquerque, NM, 87109, USA

    Edward Romero, Barry Krakow & Victor Ulibarri

  3. Los Alamos Medical Center Sleep Medical Laboratory, 3917 West Rd., Los Alamos, NM, 87544, USA

    Barry Krakow

  4. Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, 3601 S 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85723, USA

    Patricia Haynes

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, 3601 S 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85723, USA

    Patricia Haynes

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  1. Edward Romero
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  2. Barry Krakow
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  3. Patricia Haynes
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  4. Victor Ulibarri
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Correspondence to Barry Krakow.

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Romero, E., Krakow, B., Haynes, P. et al. Nocturia and snoring: predictive symptoms for obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath 14, 337–343 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-009-0310-2

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