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Obstructive sleep apnea and asthma* * Study carried out under the auspices of the Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.

Abstracts

Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), are common in asthma patients and have been associated with asthma severity. It is known that asthma symptoms tend to be more severe at night and that asthma-related deaths are most likely to occur during the night or early morning. Nocturnal symptoms occur in 60-74% of asthma patients and are markers of inadequate control of the disease. Various pathophysiological mechanisms are related to the worsening of asthma symptoms, OSAS being one of the most important factors. In patients with asthma, OSAS should be investigated whenever there is inadequate control of symptoms of nocturnal asthma despite the treatment recommended by guidelines having been administered. There is evidence in the literature that the use of continuous positive airway pressure contributes to asthma control in asthma patients with obstructive sleep apnea and uncontrolled asthma.

Apnea; Sleep apnea, obstructive; Asthma


Tem-se observado que sintomas dos distúrbios respiratórios do sono, especialmente a síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS), são comuns em asmáticos; além disso, associam-se com a gravidade da asma. Sabe-se que durante a noite tende a haver maior gravidade dos sintomas da asma, assim como uma maior proporção de mortalidade durante a noite e as primeiras horas da manhã. Sintomas noturnos ocorrem entre 60-74% dos pacientes com asma e são marcadores de controle inadequado da doença. Vários mecanismos fisiopatológicos são relacionados a esse agravamento. A SAOS está incluída entre os fatores mais importantes. A investigação da SAOS em pacientes com asma deve ser realizada sempre que não houver um controle adequado dos sintomas noturnos da asma com o tratamento recomendado por diretrizes. Há evidências da literatura que sugerem que o uso de pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas pode contribuir para o controle da asma, quando o paciente asmático tem apneia obstrutiva do sono e sua asma não está controlada.

Apneia; Apneia do sono tipo obstrutiva; Asma


Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiple phenotypes related to genetic predisposition and various environmental interactions, and there is still a major gap in the understanding of its complex causality and, consequently, in the primary prevention of the disease.( 11. Cruz AA, Bateman ED, Bousquet J. The social determinants of asthma. Eur Respir J. 2010;35(2):239-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00070309 PMid:20123842
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00070...
) It is estimated that the annual cost of asthma in the USA is 11 billion dollars, and hospitalizations account for half of these expenditures in that country.( 22. Smith DH, Malone DC, Lawson KA, Okamoto LJ, Battista C, Saunders WB. A national estimate of the economic costs of asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;156(3 Pt 1):787-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.156.3.9611072 PMid:9309994
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.156.3.9...
) Although patients with severe asthma account for less than 20% of all asthma patients, they consume 80% of all funds allocated for the treatment of asthma.( 22. Smith DH, Malone DC, Lawson KA, Okamoto LJ, Battista C, Saunders WB. A national estimate of the economic costs of asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997;156(3 Pt 1):787-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.156.3.9611072 PMid:9309994
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.156.3.9...
) Asthma is the fourth leading cause of hospitalization via the Brazilian Unified Health Care System.( 33. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria Nacional de Ações Básicas de Saúde. Estatísticas de Mortalidade. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2000. ) A multicenter study showed that Brazil ranks eighth, the mean prevalence of asthma in the country being 20%.( 44. Worldwide variations in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Eur Respir J. 1998;12(2):315-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.12020315
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.12...
) Approximately 45% of all adults with asthma have another chronic disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, and depression.( 55. Franco R, Nascimento HF, Cruz AA, Santos AC, Souza-Machado C, Ponte EV, et al. The economic impact of severe asthma to low-income families. Allergy. 2009;64(3):478-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.01981.x PMid:19210355
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.20...
) In addition, approximately 2,500 people die each year because of asthma.( 66. Portal da Saúde [homepage on the Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde. [cited 2013 Jan 11]. Farmácia Popular terá remédio de graça para asma. Available from: http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/portalsaude/impressao/5034/162/farmacia-popular-tera-%3Cbr%3Eremedio-de-graca-para-asma.html
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) In 2011, of the 177,800 patients who were hospitalized for asthma via the Brazilian Unified Health Care System, 77,100 were children.( 66. Portal da Saúde [homepage on the Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde. [cited 2013 Jan 11]. Farmácia Popular terá remédio de graça para asma. Available from: http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/portalsaude/impressao/5034/162/farmacia-popular-tera-%3Cbr%3Eremedio-de-graca-para-asma.html
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)

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep.( 77. Yoursleep [homepage on the Internet]. Darien: American Academy of Sleep Medicine. [cited 2013 Jan 11]. Understanding Sleep Apnea: Know All of the Facts. Available from: http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/Article.aspx?id=21
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) It is known that OSAS induces hypoxemia, carbon dioxide retention, changes in the normal autonomic structure, and hemodynamic responses during sleep.( 88. Wiggert GT, Faria DG, Castanho LA, Dias PA, Greco OT. Apnéia obstrutiva do sono e arritmias cardíacas. Relampa. 2010;23(1):5-11. ) According to Young et al.,( 99. Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J, Weber S, Badr S. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. N Engl J Med. 1993;328(17):1230-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199304293281704 PMid:8464434
http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJM1993042932...
) OSAS affects 4% of males and 2% of females. In Brazil, it affects 32.9% of adults, affecting 40.6% of males and 26.1% of females.( 1010. Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2009.10.005 PMid:20362502
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2009.1...
) According to Kapur et al.,( 1111. Kapur V, Blough DK, Sandblom RE, Hert R, de Maine JB, Sullivan SD, et al. The medical cost of undiagnosed sleep apnea. Sleep. 1999;22(6):749-55. PMid:10505820 ) the average annual medical costs for patients with undiagnosed OSAS is US$ 2,720, being approximately twice as high as those for patients diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for sleep-disordered breathing. If not diagnosed and treated appropriately, OSAS generates an additional annual expenditure of 3.4 billion dollars in the USA.( 1111. Kapur V, Blough DK, Sandblom RE, Hert R, de Maine JB, Sullivan SD, et al. The medical cost of undiagnosed sleep apnea. Sleep. 1999;22(6):749-55. PMid:10505820 ) The lack of diagnosis in cases of severe OSAS is alarming because of the comorbidities and the risk of sudden death.( 1212. Weiss JW, Launois SH, Anand A, Garpestad E. Cardiovascular morbidity in obstructive sleep apnea. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 1999;41(5):367-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/pcad.1999.0410367 PMid:10406330
. http://dx.doi.org/10...
)

Patients with OSAS tend to have circular upper airways, whereas normal individuals have elliptical upper airways.( 1313. Schwab RJ, Gefter WB, Hoffman EA, Gupta KB, Pack AI. Dynamic upper airway imaging during awake respiration in normal subjects and patients with sleep disordered breathing. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1993;148(5):1385-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/148.5.1385 PMid:8239180
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/148.5.1...
) In adult patients with upper airway obstruction, the most common types of obstruction are velopharyngeal narrowing, in 78%; oropharyngeal narrowing, in 35%; and hypopharyngeal narrowing, in 54%. Obstruction at a single level was observed in 48%, whereas obstruction at multiple levels was observed in 52%.( 1414. Rabelo FA, Küpper DS, Sander HH, dos Santos Júnior V, Thuler E, Fernandes RM, et al. A comparison of the Fujita classification of awake and drug-induced sleep endoscopy patients. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(1):100-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.20130017 PMid:23503915
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.2013...
) A disproportionate oral cavity anatomy due to increased soft tissue (in particular, increased tongue volume) or underdeveloped maxilla and mandible can be evaluated by applying the modified Mallampati classification.( 1515. Bittencourt LA, Haddad FM, Fabbro CD, Cintra FD, Rios L. Abordagem geral do paciente com síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono. Rev Bras Hipertens. 2009;16(3):158-63. ) The Mallampati classification was modified by Samsoon and Young (Figure 1).( 1616. Samsoon GL, Young JR. Difficult tracheal intubation: a retrospective study. Anaesthesia. 1987;42(5):487-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.1987.tb04039.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.19...
, 1717. Wikimedia Commons [homepage on the Internet]. San Francisco: Wikimedia Foundation. [cited 2013 Jan 11]. File: Mallampati.svg. Available from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Mallampati.svg
Available from: htt...
) The pharyngeal structures are now classified into four types: class I: the soft palate, palatine tonsils, uvula, and anterior and posterior pillars of the fauces are visible; class II: all class I structures are visible, except the pillars of the fauces; class III: only the base of the uvula is visible; and class IV: the uvula cannot be seen, and only the hard palate is visible.( 1616. Samsoon GL, Young JR. Difficult tracheal intubation: a retrospective study. Anaesthesia. 1987;42(5):487-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.1987.tb04039.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.19...
)

Figure 1
Modified Mallampati score.(17) Author Jmarchn, January 11, 2013. Permission is granted to copy, distribute, and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License - Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.

OSAS-asthma

Introduction

The first study examining asthma and OSAS was a case report by Hudgel & Shrucard, in 1979.( 1818. Hudgel DW, Shucard DW. Coexistence of sleep apnea and asthma resulting in severe sleep hypoxemia. JAMA. 1979;242(25):2789-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.03300250045031
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.0330...
) Ekici et al.( 1919. Ekici A, Ekici M, Kurtipek E, Keles H, Kara T, Tunckol M, et al. Association of asthma-related symptoms with snoring and apnea and effect on health-related quality of life. Chest. 2005;128(5):3358-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.5.3358 PMid:16304284
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.5.33...
) conducted a study involving 7,469 adults; of those, 2,713 had a history of asthma. The authors found that snoring (OR = 1.7) and self-reported apnea (OR = 2.7) were more prevalent in patients who had a history of asthma than in those who did not. Larsson et al.( 2020. Larsson LG, Lindberg A, Franklin KA, Lundbäck B. Symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnoea are common in subjects with asthma, chronic bronchitis and rhinitis in a general population. Respir Med. 2001;95(5):423-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/rmed.2001.1054 PMid:11392586
http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/rmed.2001.1054...
) evaluated 46 patients with a history of chronic cough, expectoration, or periodic wheezing. Of those 46 patients, 52% had a history of snoring and an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 10 events/hour of sleep. In that study, OSAS was associated with wheezing in 21% of the cases, and asthma was associated with OSAS in 17% of the cases.( 2020. Larsson LG, Lindberg A, Franklin KA, Lundbäck B. Symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnoea are common in subjects with asthma, chronic bronchitis and rhinitis in a general population. Respir Med. 2001;95(5):423-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/rmed.2001.1054 PMid:11392586
http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/rmed.2001.1054...
) Byun et al.( 2121. Byun MK, Park SC, Chang YS, Kim YS, Kim SK, Kim HJ, et al. Associations of moderate to severe asthma with obstructive sleep apnea. Yonsei Med J. 201;54(4):942-8. ) selected 176 adults with the following complaints: habitual snoring; excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS); choking during sleep; sleep fragmentation; nonrestorative sleep; daytime fatigue; and difficulty concentrating. Those patients were referred for clinical evaluation and polysomnography. Of the 176 patients, 111 (66%) had 10 > AHI > 5 events/h, and 72 (43%) had an AHI > 15 events/h. Of the patients who had an AHI > 5 events/h, 37 (33.6%) had been diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma.( 2121. Byun MK, Park SC, Chang YS, Kim YS, Kim SK, Kim HJ, et al. Associations of moderate to severe asthma with obstructive sleep apnea. Yonsei Med J. 201;54(4):942-8. )

Both OSAS and asthma can result in fragmented sleep and EDS.( 2222. Calhoun SL, Vgontzas AN, Fernandez-Mendoza J, Mayes SD, Tsaoussoglou M, Basta M, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of excessive daytime sleepiness in a community sample of young children: the role of obesity, asthma, anxiety/depression, and sleep. Sleep. 2011;34(4):503-7. PMid:21461329 PMCid:3065261 ) Calhoun et al.( 2222. Calhoun SL, Vgontzas AN, Fernandez-Mendoza J, Mayes SD, Tsaoussoglou M, Basta M, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of excessive daytime sleepiness in a community sample of young children: the role of obesity, asthma, anxiety/depression, and sleep. Sleep. 2011;34(4):503-7. PMid:21461329 PMCid:3065261 ) studied 700 children and found that 13.3% of those who had EDS also had a diagnosis of asthma. The independent predictors of EDS were waist circumference (OR = 1.4), self-reported anxiety/depressive symptoms (OR = 2.9), difficulty falling asleep (OR = 1.7), and a history of asthma (OR = 2.4). In another study, impaired sleep quality was found to be far more common in children with asthma than in controls (33 vs. 0; p < 0.01).( 2323. Stores G, Ellis AJ, Wiggs L, Crawford C, Thomson A. Sleep and psychological disturbance in nocturnal asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1998;78(5):413-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.5.413 PMid:9659086 PMCid:1717552
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.5.413...
) In addition, EDS was more common in the children with asthma than in those in the control group (19 vs. 14; p < 0.05).( 2323. Stores G, Ellis AJ, Wiggs L, Crawford C, Thomson A. Sleep and psychological disturbance in nocturnal asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1998;78(5):413-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.5.413 PMid:9659086 PMCid:1717552
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.5.413...
) This EDS can be explained by recurrent episodes of coughing and dyspnea during sleep, which are characteristic of asthma.( 2323. Stores G, Ellis AJ, Wiggs L, Crawford C, Thomson A. Sleep and psychological disturbance in nocturnal asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1998;78(5):413-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.5.413 PMid:9659086 PMCid:1717552
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.78.5.413...
) It should be taken into consideration that both asthma and OSAS involve frequent awakenings associated with airflow limitation and increased respiratory effort, with consequent desaturation during sleep.( 1919. Ekici A, Ekici M, Kurtipek E, Keles H, Kara T, Tunckol M, et al. Association of asthma-related symptoms with snoring and apnea and effect on health-related quality of life. Chest. 2005;128(5):3358-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.5.3358 PMid:16304284
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.128.5.33...
)

Sleep-disordered breathing vs. asthma control

In patients with asthma, OSAS acts as a mechanism that contributes to the lack of asthma control,( 2424. Gutierrez MJ, Zhu J, Rodriguez-Martinez CE, Nino CL, Nino G. Nocturnal phenotypical features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in asthmatic children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013;48(6):592-600. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppul.22713 PMid:23203921
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppul.22713...
) because the reduction in airway caliber in nocturnal asthma is often associated with sleep fragmentation, early morning awakening, difficulty maintaining sleep, and EDS.( 2525. Shigemitsu H, Afshar K. Nocturnal asthma. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2007;13(1):49-55. Erratum in: Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2007;13(2):156-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCP.0b013e328010a890 PMid:17133125
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCP.0b013e3280...
) Increased abdominal pressure during periods of OSAS contributes to gastroesophageal reflux (GER), bronchial hyperreactivity, and bronchial inflammation.( 2626. Lewis DA. Sleep in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2001;7(2):105-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00063198-200103000-00008 PMid:11224731
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00063198-20010...
) Patients with difficult-to-control asthma can have an increase in the number of episodes of OSAS and oxyhemoglobin desaturation, especially during rapid eye movement sleep.( 2424. Gutierrez MJ, Zhu J, Rodriguez-Martinez CE, Nino CL, Nino G. Nocturnal phenotypical features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in asthmatic children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013;48(6):592-600. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppul.22713 PMid:23203921
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppul.22713...
) Because of the aforementioned reasons, the US National Asthma Education and Prevention Program recommends that patients with difficult-to-control asthma be screened for OSAS.( 2727. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [homepage on the Internet]. Bethesda: National Institutes of Health. [cited 2013 Mar 15]. Expert Panel Report 3 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. [Adobe Acrobat document, 440p.]. Available from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf
Available from: htt...
)

Teodorescu et al.( 2828. Teodorescu M, Polomis DA, Hall SV, Teodorescu MC, Gangnon RE, Peterson AG, et al. Association of obstructive sleep apnea risk with asthma control in adults. Chest. 2010;138(3):543-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-3066 PMid:20495105 PMCid:2940069
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-3066...
) found that individuals with OSAS were 3.6 times as likely to have uncontrolled asthma. Janson et al.( 2929. Janson C, De Backer W, Gislason T, Plaschke P, Björnsson E, Hetta J, et al. Increased prevalence of sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in subjects with bronchial asthma: a population study of young adults in three European countries. Eur Respir J. 1996;9(10):2132-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09102132 PMid:8902479
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09...
) found an association of bronchial hyperreactivity with daytime fatigue, EDS, early awakening, higher percentage of time awake during the night, and decreased sleep efficiency. The use of theophylline was associated with an increased prevalence of difficulty initiating sleep and decreased sleep efficiency.( 2929. Janson C, De Backer W, Gislason T, Plaschke P, Björnsson E, Hetta J, et al. Increased prevalence of sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in subjects with bronchial asthma: a population study of young adults in three European countries. Eur Respir J. 1996;9(10):2132-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09102132 PMid:8902479
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09...
) A negative correlation was found between FEV1 and daytime fatigue, and a positive correlation was found between PEF and duration of insomnia and between PEF and sleep efficiency.( 2929. Janson C, De Backer W, Gislason T, Plaschke P, Björnsson E, Hetta J, et al. Increased prevalence of sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in subjects with bronchial asthma: a population study of young adults in three European countries. Eur Respir J. 1996;9(10):2132-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09102132 PMid:8902479
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.96.09...
)

Julien et al.( 3030. Julien JY, Martin JG, Ernst P, Olivenstein R, Hamid Q, Lemière C, et al. Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea in severe versus moderate asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(2):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.05.016 PMid:19560194
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.05...
) found that greater asthma severity translated to a higher AHI; that is, patients with severe asthma had an AHI of 23.6 events/h, those with moderate asthma had an AHI of 19.5 events/h, and those with mild asthma had an AHI of 9.9 events/h (p < 0.001). When the authors investigated OSAS in those with an AHI ≥ 15 events/h, they found that 23 (88%) of the 26 patients with severe asthma had been diagnosed with OSAS, as had 15 (58%) of the 26 patients with moderate asthma and 8 (31%) of the 26 controls without asthma. Mean nocturnal SaO2 was significantly lower in the patients with severe asthma than in the controls.( 3030. Julien JY, Martin JG, Ernst P, Olivenstein R, Hamid Q, Lemière C, et al. Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea in severe versus moderate asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(2):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.05.016 PMid:19560194
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.05...
) The high prevalence of OSAS in patients with severe asthma suggests that recognition and treatment of OSAS play an important role in improving asthma control.( 3030. Julien JY, Martin JG, Ernst P, Olivenstein R, Hamid Q, Lemière C, et al. Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea in severe versus moderate asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(2):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.05.016 PMid:19560194
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.05...
) Approximately 63% of children with severe asthma have OSAS.( 3131. Kheirandish-Gozal L, Dayyat EA, Eid NS, Morton RL, Gozal D. Obstructive sleep apnea in poorly controlled asthmatic children: effect of adenotonsillectomy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011;46(9):913-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppul.21451 PMid:21465680 PMCid:3156307
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppul.21451...
)

Teodorescu et al.( 3232. Teodorescu M, Consens FB, Bria WF, Coffey MJ, McMorris MS, Weatherwax KJ, et al. Predictors of habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea risk in patients with asthma. Chest. 2009;135(5):1125-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273 PMid:18849401
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273...
) found that asthma patients who were using low-dose inhaled corticosteroids regularly, those who were using medium-dose inhaled corticosteroids regularly, and those who were using high-dose inhaled corticosteroids regularly were, respectively, 2.29 times, 3.67 times, and 5.43 times as likely to develop OSAS as were those who were not using inhaled corticosteroids. In addition, an inverse association was found between OSAS and FEV1.( 3232. Teodorescu M, Consens FB, Bria WF, Coffey MJ, McMorris MS, Weatherwax KJ, et al. Predictors of habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea risk in patients with asthma. Chest. 2009;135(5):1125-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273 PMid:18849401
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273...
) Teodorescu et al.( 3232. Teodorescu M, Consens FB, Bria WF, Coffey MJ, McMorris MS, Weatherwax KJ, et al. Predictors of habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea risk in patients with asthma. Chest. 2009;135(5):1125-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273 PMid:18849401
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273...
) reported that the association between OSAS and the doses of inhaled corticosteroids can be associated with the known adverse effects of corticosteroids. The authors reported that inhaled corticosteroids can compromise the upper airway dilator muscles in asthma patients and therefore act as facilitators of OSAS.( 3232. Teodorescu M, Consens FB, Bria WF, Coffey MJ, McMorris MS, Weatherwax KJ, et al. Predictors of habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea risk in patients with asthma. Chest. 2009;135(5):1125-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273 PMid:18849401
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-1273...

33. Williams AJ, Baghat MS, Stableforth DE, Cayton RM, Shenoi PM, Skinner C. Dysphonia caused by inhaled steroids: recognition of a characteristic laryngeal abnormality. Thorax. 1983;38(11):813-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thx.38.11.813 PMid:6648863 PMCid:459669
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- 3434. DelGaudio JM. Steroid inhaler laryngitis: dysphonia caused by inhaled fluticasone therapy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002;128(6):677-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archotol.128.6.677 PMid:12049563
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archotol.128.6...
)

It has been reported that 60-74% of patients with asthma have nocturnal symptoms, which function as markers of inadequate control of the disease.( 2525. Shigemitsu H, Afshar K. Nocturnal asthma. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2007;13(1):49-55. Erratum in: Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2007;13(2):156-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCP.0b013e328010a890 PMid:17133125
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCP.0b013e3280...
) In 1988, Guilleminault et al.( 3535. Guilleminault C, Quera-Salva MA, Powell N, Riley R, Romaker A, Partinen M, et al. Nocturnal asthma: snoring, small pharynx and nasal CPAP. Eur Respir J. 1988;1(10):902-7. PMid:3066641 ) studied patients with nocturnal asthma and OSAS and noted that episodes of nocturnal asthma exacerbation were inhibited by the recommended treatment for OSAS, i.e., continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The authors suggested that patients with OSAS have an increased vagal tone during sleep, which can increase the chance of having nocturnal bronchoconstriction, which in turn can be inhibited by CPAP. Subsequently, Ciftci et al.( 3636. Ciftci TU, Ciftci B, Guven SF, Kokturk O, Turktas H. Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in uncontrolled nocturnal asthmatic patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Respir Med. 2005;99(5):529-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2004.10.011 PMid:15823448
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2004.10...
) conducted polysomnographic studies in asthma patients who had nocturnal symptoms despite using the medications recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma. In addition to nocturnal symptoms, those patients had a history of snoring for at least 6 months. Polysomnography showed that 21 (48.83%) of the 43 patients had OSAS, i.e., an AHI ≥ 5 events/h, and 19 of the 21 patients with OSAS had an AHI ≥ 15 events/h; therefore, they were referred for CPAP treatment, the recommended treatment having improved the symptoms of nocturnal asthma.( 3636. Ciftci TU, Ciftci B, Guven SF, Kokturk O, Turktas H. Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in uncontrolled nocturnal asthmatic patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Respir Med. 2005;99(5):529-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2004.10.011 PMid:15823448
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2004.10...
)

Hypotheses for the interaction between OSAS and asthma

OSAS-obesity-asthma

Obesity is considered one of the causal factors for OSAS. Peppard et al.( 3737. Peppard PE, Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J. Longitudinal study of moderate weight change and sleep-disordered breathing. JAMA. 2000;284(23):3015-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.284.23.3015 PMid:11122588
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.284.23.30...
) evaluated adults at two different time points (at baseline and 4 years later). Initial data showed that individuals with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 (n = 268) had an AHI of 7.4 events/h; those with 30 < BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (n = 241) had an AHI of 2.6 events/h; and those with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (n = 181) had an AHI of 1.2 events/h. After 4 years, 39 of the patients who did not have moderate to severe OSAS (AHI ≥ 15 events/h) had a 3.9 kg increase in weight. Of the 46 participants who had moderate to severe OSAS, 17 gained an average of 3.1 kg, although there was no significant change in the AHI; among those whose AHI was normal, there was an average increase in weight of 2.2 kg. The authors found that the increase in weight was positively correlated with the AHI; that is, patients who gain 10% of their body weight tend to show an increase of approximately 32% in the AHI, and a 10% reduction in weight resulted in a 26% reduction in the AHI. A 10% increase in body weight increased the chance of developing moderate to severe OSAS by 6 times.( 3737. Peppard PE, Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J. Longitudinal study of moderate weight change and sleep-disordered breathing. JAMA. 2000;284(23):3015-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.284.23.3015 PMid:11122588
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.284.23.30...
)

The high prevalence of OSAS in patients with asthma appears to be associated with obesity. Cottrell et al.( 3838. Cottrell L, Neal WA, Ice C, Perez MK, Piedimonte G. Metabolic abnormalities in children with asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183(4):441-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201004-0603OC PMid:20851922 PMCid:3056222
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201004-06...
) conducted a cross-sectional study involving 17,994 children (in the 4-12 year age bracket), 14% of whom had a diagnosis of asthma. The prevalence of asthma was directly proportional to the BMI percentile. The prevalence of asthma is higher in obese children and even higher in morbidly obese children. It has been suggested that, beyond a certain threshold of obesity, metabolic factors become involved in the pathophysiology of upper airway inflammation, as well as in bronchial hyperreactivity, being able to interfere with the clinical manifestations of asthma.( 3838. Cottrell L, Neal WA, Ice C, Perez MK, Piedimonte G. Metabolic abnormalities in children with asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183(4):441-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201004-0603OC PMid:20851922 PMCid:3056222
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201004-06...
) It seems that the association between asthma and OSAS worsens the clinical picture of asthma, given that OSAS can stimulate weight gain, playing a significant role in the severity of asthma.( 3939. Alkhalil M, Schulman E, Getsy J. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and asthma: what are the links?. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(1):71-8. PMid:19317386 PMCid:2637171 ) It is known that OSAS interferes with lipid homeostasis and systemic inflammation and, when associated with obesity, affects glycemic regulation, interfering with insulin sensitivity, independently of the BMI.( 4040. Gozal D, Capdevila OS, Kheirandish-Gozal L. Metabolic alterations and systemic inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea among nonobese and obese prepubertal children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;177(10):1142-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200711-1670OC PMid:18276939 PMCid:2383995
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200711-16...
) Komakula et al.( 4141. Komakula S, Khatri S, Mermis J, Savill S, Haque S, Rojas M, et al. Body mass index is associated with reduced exhaled nitric oxide and higher exhaled 8-isoprostanes in asthmatics. Respir Res. 2007;8:32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1465-9921-8-32 PMid:17437645 PMCid:1855924
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1465-9921-8-32...
) found an association of BMI, leptin levels, and adiponectin levels with decreased levels of exhaled nitric oxide in patients with asthma.

OSAS-systemic inflammation-asthma

It is known that OSAS has a negative effect on proatherogenic lipid levels and promotes inflammatory responses, which are evidenced by a reversible increase in C-reactive protein (CRP).( 4040. Gozal D, Capdevila OS, Kheirandish-Gozal L. Metabolic alterations and systemic inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea among nonobese and obese prepubertal children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;177(10):1142-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200711-1670OC PMid:18276939 PMCid:2383995
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200711-16...
) Gozal et al.( 4040. Gozal D, Capdevila OS, Kheirandish-Gozal L. Metabolic alterations and systemic inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea among nonobese and obese prepubertal children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;177(10):1142-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200711-1670OC PMid:18276939 PMCid:2383995
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200711-16...
) noted that triglyceride levels decreased after adenotonsillectomy, although only in the group of obese children. In both groups, serum levels of apoB decreased remarkably after adenotonsillectomy, and the effect was slightly higher in the group of nonobese children. Similarly, serum levels of CRP, which were higher in the pre-adenotonsillectomy period, decreased proportionally to the AHI, the reduction being more significant in the group of nonobese children. By means of hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and sleep fragmentation, OSAS can cause or aggravate proinflammatory states through effects on sympathetic hyperreactivity, oxidative stress, or both.( 4242. Mehra R, Redline S. Sleep apnea: a proinflammatory disorder that coaggregates with obesity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;121(5):1096-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2008.04.002 PMid:18466782 PMCid:2720266
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2008.04...
)

TNF-α is considered a marker of sleep-disordered breathing.( 4242. Mehra R, Redline S. Sleep apnea: a proinflammatory disorder that coaggregates with obesity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;121(5):1096-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2008.04.002 PMid:18466782 PMCid:2720266
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2008.04...
) Vgontzas et al.( 4343. Vgontzas AN, Zoumakis E, Lin HM, Bixler EO, Trakada G, Chrousos GP. Marked decrease in sleepiness in patients with sleep apnea by etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89(9):4409-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2003-031929 PMid:15356039
http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2003-031929...
) demonstrated that TNF-α inhibition can decrease the severity of OSAS. Gozal et al.( 4444. Gozal D, Serpero LD, Kheirandish-Gozal L, Capdevila OS, Khalyfa A, Tauman R. Sleep measures and morning plasma TNF-alpha levels in children with sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep. 2010;33(3):319-25. PMid:20337189 PMCid:2831425 ) noted that children with moderate to severe OSAS had elevated levels of TNF-α in the early hours of the morning and that children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy showed a reduction in the levels of TNF-α after surgical treatment. In patients with OSAS, CPAP therapy results in an improvement in the levels of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6.( 4545. Baessler A, Nadeem R, Harvey M, Madbouly E, Younus A, Sajid H, et al. Treatment for sleep apnea by continuous positive airway pressure improves levels of inflammatory markers - a meta-analysis. J Inflamm (Lond). 2013;10(1):13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-10-13 PMid:23518041 PMCid:3637233
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-10-1...
) TNF-α is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma; that is, it interferes with airway smooth muscle contractility.( 4545. Baessler A, Nadeem R, Harvey M, Madbouly E, Younus A, Sajid H, et al. Treatment for sleep apnea by continuous positive airway pressure improves levels of inflammatory markers - a meta-analysis. J Inflamm (Lond). 2013;10(1):13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-10-13 PMid:23518041 PMCid:3637233
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-10-1...
)

OSAS-leptin-asthma

The treatment of OSAS can reduce circulating leptin levels as a result of the reduction in the AHI.( 4646. Sanner BM, Kollhosser P, Buechner N, Zidek W, Tepel M. Influence of treatment on leptin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur Respir J. 2004;23(4):601-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.04.00067804 PMid:15083761
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.04.00...
) Sanner et al.( 4646. Sanner BM, Kollhosser P, Buechner N, Zidek W, Tepel M. Influence of treatment on leptin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur Respir J. 2004;23(4):601-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.04.00067804 PMid:15083761
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.04.00...
) noted that adults with OSAS treated with CPAP showed a reduction in the AHI, from 29 events/h before CPAP treatment to 1.6 events/h after CPAP treatment, as well as showing a reduction in leptin levels, from 8.5 ng/mL before CPAP treatment to 7.4 ng/mL after CPAP treatment. Circulating leptin levels are directly proportional to the amount of adipose tissue; therefore, obese children and adults have elevated circulating leptin levels.( 4646. Sanner BM, Kollhosser P, Buechner N, Zidek W, Tepel M. Influence of treatment on leptin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur Respir J. 2004;23(4):601-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.04.00067804 PMid:15083761
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.04.00...
) Mai et al.( 4747. Mai XM, Böttcher MF, Leijon I. Leptin and asthma in overweight children at 12 years of age. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004;15(6):523-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.2004.00195.x PMid:15610366
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.20...
) showed that leptin levels are higher in obese children than in nonobese children (mean, 18.1 ng/mL vs. 2.8 ng/mL). In addition, children with asthma are twice as likely to have elevated leptin levels as are those without. Guler et al.( 4848. Guler N, Kirerleri E, Ones U, Tamay Z, Salmayenli N, Darendeliler F. Leptin: does it have any role in childhood asthma? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;114(2):254-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2004.03.053 PMid:15316499
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2004.03...
) compared children with asthma and healthy children in terms of leptin levels, which were found to be 3.53 ng/mL and 2.26 ng/mL, respectively. A logistic regression showed that leptin acted as a predictive factor for asthma.

OSAS-GER-asthma

It is believed that the significant increase in negative intrathoracic pressure caused by upper airway obstruction can predispose to retrograde movement of gastric contents.( 4949. Orr WC, Robert JJ, Houck JR, Giddens CL, Tawk MM. The effect of acid suppression on upper airway anatomy and obstruction in patients with sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(4):330-4. PMid:19968010 PMCid:2725251 ) One study showed that 71.4% of patients with OSAS had GER (as measured by pH monitoring); of those, 10.4% reported no symptoms.( 5050. Samelson CF. Gastroesophageal reflux and obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 1989;12(5):475-6. PMid:2799220 ) Guda et al.( 5151. Guda N, Partington S, Vakil N. Symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux, arousals and sleep quality in patients undergoing polysomnography for possible obstructive sleep apnoea. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;20(10):1153-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02263.x PMid:15569118
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.20...
) suggested that patients with GER have more episodes of OSAS than do those without symptoms of GER. It has been reported that OSAS-induced GER can play an important role in asthma symptoms.( 3939. Alkhalil M, Schulman E, Getsy J. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and asthma: what are the links?. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(1):71-8. PMid:19317386 PMCid:2637171 ) Kiljander et al.( 5252. Kiljander TO, Laitinen JO. The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in adult asthmatics. Chest. 2004;126(5):1490-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.126.5.1490 PMid:15539717
http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.126.5.14...
) studied 90 patients with asthma and reported that 32 (36%) had a diagnosis of GER. However, this prevalence can be as high as 84%.( 5353. Sontag SJ, O'Connell S, Khandelwal S, Greenlee H, Schnell T, Nemchausky B, et al. Asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux: long term results of a randomized trial of medical and surgical antireflux therapies. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98(5):987-99. PMid:12809818 , 5454. Harding SM, Richter JE, Guzzo MR, Schan CA, Alexander RW, Bradley LA. Asthma and gastroesophageal reflux: acid suppressive therapy improves asthma outcome. Am J Med. 1996;100(4):395-405. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(97)89514-9
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(97)...
) Sontag et al.( 5353. Sontag SJ, O'Connell S, Khandelwal S, Greenlee H, Schnell T, Nemchausky B, et al. Asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux: long term results of a randomized trial of medical and surgical antireflux therapies. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98(5):987-99. PMid:12809818 ) studied 62 patients with asthma and GER; of those, 24 were on antacids (control group), 22 were on ranitidine (150 mg), and 16 underwent fundoplication. Those who underwent surgical treatment showed an immediate reduction in nocturnal exacerbation of wheezing, cough, and dyspnea. After 2 years, there was an improvement in asthma in 74.5% of the patients who underwent surgical treatment, in 9.1% of those in the ranitidine group, and in 4.2% of those in the control group. In the group of patients who underwent surgical treatment, asthma symptom scores increased by 43%, whereas, in the ranitidine and control groups, asthma symptom scores increased by less than 10%.( 5353. Sontag SJ, O'Connell S, Khandelwal S, Greenlee H, Schnell T, Nemchausky B, et al. Asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux: long term results of a randomized trial of medical and surgical antireflux therapies. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98(5):987-99. PMid:12809818 )

OSAS-upper airways-asthma

The current trend is to regard the nose and bronchi as parts of a single airway.( 5555. Bousquet J, Van Cauwenberge P, Khaltaev N; Aria Workshop Group; World Health Organization. Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;108(5 Suppl):S147-334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1067/mai.2001.118891 PMid:11707753
http://dx.doi.org/10.1067/mai.2001.11889...
) Rhinitis is considered an independent risk factor for asthma.( 5656. Cruz AA. The 'united airways' require an holistic approach to management. Allergy. 2005;60(7):871-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00858.x PMid:15932375
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.20...
) The proportion of asthma patients who have symptoms of rhinitis can be as high as 100%.( 5757. Linneberg A, Henrik Nielsen N, Frølund L, Madsen F, Dirksen A, Jørgensen T, et al. The link between allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma: a prospective population-based study. The Copenhagen Allergy Study. Allergy. 2002;57(11):1048-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2002.23664.x PMid:12359002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.20...
) Kiely et al.( 5858. Kiely JL, Nolan P, McNicholas WT. Intranasal corticosteroid therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with co-existing rhinitis. Thorax. 2004;59(1):50-5. PMid:14694248 PMCid:1758841 ) noted that, after four weeks of treatment with a corticosteroid (fluticasone propionate), the AHI was lower in the group of patients who used fluticasone than in the control group. Kheirandish-Gozal et al.( 5959. Kheirandish-Gozal L, Gozal D. Intranasal budesonide treatment for children with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics. 2008;122(1):e149-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3398 PMid:18595959
http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3398...
) used intranasal budesonide for six weeks in children with moderate OSAS and noted a significant improvement in the polysomnographic variables, 54.1% of the children having reached the normal range. There was also a reduction in adenoid size. The discontinuation of the nasal corticosteroid did not affect the results. However, in the placebo group, there were no changes in the investigated data.( 5959. Kheirandish-Gozal L, Gozal D. Intranasal budesonide treatment for children with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics. 2008;122(1):e149-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3398 PMid:18595959
http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3398...
)

In children with OSAS, the most common upper airway obstruction sites are as follows: adenoid, in 57%; hard palate, in 29%; and palatine tonsils, in 14%.( 6060. Isono S, Shimada A, Utsugi M, Konno A, Nishino T. Comparison of static mechanical properties of the passive pharynx between normal children and children with sleep-disordered breathing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;157(4 Pt 1):1204-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.157.4.9702042 PMid:9563740
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.157.4.9...
) Donnelly et al.( 6161. Donnelly LF, Casper KA, Chen B. Correlation on cine MR imaging of size of adenoid and palatine tonsils with degree of upper airway motion in asymptomatic sedated children. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2002;179(2):503-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.2214/ajr.179.2.1790503 PMid:12130463
http://dx.doi.org/10.2214/ajr.179.2.1790...
) studied the upper airways using magnetic resonance imaging and found hypopharyngeal collapse in 81% of the children with OSAS, having found no collapse in the control group (composed of healthy children). Fregosi et al.( 6262. Fregosi RF, Quan SF, Morgan WL, Goodwin JL, Cabrera R, Shareif I, et al. Pharyngeal critical pressure in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing. J Appl Physiol. 2006;101(3):734-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01444.2005 PMid:16709652
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.0...
) noted that the palatine tonsils, pharyngeal tonsils, and hard palate account for 74.3% of all cases of upper airway obstruction in children. However, Guilleminault et al.( 6363. Guilleminault C, Huang YS, Glamann C, Li K, Chan A. Adenotonsillectomy and obstructive sleep apnea in children: a prospective survey. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;136(2):169-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2006.09.021 PMid:17275534
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2006....
) noted that OSAS persisted in 45% of the children who underwent adenotonsillectomy. Therefore, adenotonsillar hypertrophy is only one of the causes of OSAS in children. Other triggering factors, such as rhinopathy, turbinate hypertrophy, septal deviation, and micrognathia, should be taken into consideration.( 6464. Rizzi M, Onorato J, Andreoli A, Colombo S, Pecis M, Marchisio P, et al. Nasal resistances are useful in identifying children with severe obstructive sleep apnea before polysomnography. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2002;65(1):7-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0165-5876(02)00119-2
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0165-5876(02)...
)

Regarding the inflammatory process of the upper airways, Almendros et al.( 6565. Almendros I, Carreras A, Ramírez J, Montserrat JM, Navajas D, Farré R. Upper airway collapse and reopening induce inflammation in a sleep apnoea model. Eur Respir J. 2008;32(2):399-404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00161607 PMid:18448490
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00161...
) conducted an experimental study in rats submitted to recurrent episodes of negative pressure alternating with positive pressure and inducing upper airway collapse and reopening, similar to what occurs in OSAS. They concluded that there was a high expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, such as TNF-α, IL-1, and macrophages, in the laryngeal and soft palate tissue. Puig et al.( 6666. Puig F, Rico F, Almendros I, Montserrat JM, Navajas D, Farre R. Vibration enhances interleukin-8 release in a cell model of snoring-induced airway inflammation. Sleep. 2005;28(10):1312-6. PMid:16295217 ) examined human bronchial epithelial cells placed on a vibrating platform. After 12 h and 24 h of exposure to vibration, the cells exhibited high levels of IL-8 in comparison with those in the control group. The authors concluded that vibration applied to epithelial cells can trigger inflammatory processes, similar to what occurs in snoring and OSAS.( 6666. Puig F, Rico F, Almendros I, Montserrat JM, Navajas D, Farre R. Vibration enhances interleukin-8 release in a cell model of snoring-induced airway inflammation. Sleep. 2005;28(10):1312-6. PMid:16295217 )

Trudo et al.( 6767. Trudo FJ, Gefter WB, Welch KC, Gupta KB, Maislin G, Schwab RJ. State-related changes in upper airway caliber and surrounding soft-tissue structures in normal subjects. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158(4):1259-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.158.4.9712063 PMid:9769290
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.158.4.9...
) used magnetic resonance imaging in order to evaluate the upper airways of 15 healthy adults during induced sleep and noted changes in and around the upper airways. The air space at the level of the retropalatal region was reduced by 19% during sleep, with an anteroposterior and laterolateral reduction in the pharynx. In the retroglossal region, no significant reduction was observed. Schwab et al.( 6868. Schwab RJ, Pasirstein M, Pierson R, Mackley A, Hachadoorian R, Arens R, et al. Identification of upper airway anatomic risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea with volumetric magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168(5):522-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200208-866OC PMid:12746251
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200208-86...
) compared patients with OSAS and healthy individuals in terms of the dimensions of the upper airways. The chance of upper airway structures being associated with OSAS was 6.01 for the lateral pharyngeal wall, 4.66 for tongue volume, and 6.95 for soft tissues. The volume of the tongue and lateral pharyngeal walls proved to be an independent factor for OSAS. Studies have shown fat deposition in upper airway tissues in patients with OSAS.( 6969. Stauffer JL, Buick MK, Bixler EO, Sharkey FE, Abt AB, Manders EK, et al. Morphology of the uvula in obstructive sleep apnea. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989;140(3):724-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/140.3.724 PMid:2782743
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/140.3.7...
, 7070. Zohar Y, Sabo R, Strauss M, Schwartz A, Gal R, Oksenberg A. Oropharyngeal fatty infiltration in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a histologic study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1998;107(2):170-4. PMid:9486913 )

Prospects for intervention in OSAS-asthma

Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma seek emergency room treatment 15 times as often as do those with moderate asthma and are hospitalized 20 times as often.( 7171. Jardim JR. Pharmacological economics and asthma treatment. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33(1):iv-vi. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132007000100002 PMid:17568859
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132007...

72. Ponte E, Franco RA, Souza-Machado A, Souza-Machado C, Cruz AA. Impact that a program to control severe asthma has on the use of Unified Health System resources in Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33(1):15-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132007000100006 PMid:17568863
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132007...
- 7373. Serra-Batlles J, Plaza V, Morejón E, Comella A, Brugués J. Costs of asthma according to the degree of severity. Eur Respir J. 1998;12(6):1322-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.12061322 PMid:9877485
http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.98.12...
) It is speculated that OSAS plays an important role in asthma exacerbations and that the use of CPAP can decrease exacerbations, improve quality of life, and reduce the number of cases of difficult-to-control asthma.( 7474. Alkhalil M, Schulman ES, Getsy J. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and asthma: the role of continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008;101(4):350-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60309-2
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)...
) Chan et al.( 7575. Chan CS, Woolcock AJ, Sullivan CE. Nocturnal asthma: role of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1988;137(6):1502-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/137.6.1502 PMid:3059864
http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/137.6.1...
) noted that the mean pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator FEV1 were higher during CPAP therapy than during two control periods (i.e., without CPAP therapy). The authors reported that CPAP treatment improved asthma control, and, in particular, nocturnal exacerbations of asthma. Guilleminault et al.( 3535. Guilleminault C, Quera-Salva MA, Powell N, Riley R, Romaker A, Partinen M, et al. Nocturnal asthma: snoring, small pharynx and nasal CPAP. Eur Respir J. 1988;1(10):902-7. PMid:3066641 ) studied patients with asthma and craniomandibular abnormalities, with a narrow retrolingual space. They found that the use of CPAP eliminated snoring, apnea, hypopnea, and nocturnal asthma exacerbations. Nasal CPAP had no effect on daytime asthma.( 3535. Guilleminault C, Quera-Salva MA, Powell N, Riley R, Romaker A, Partinen M, et al. Nocturnal asthma: snoring, small pharynx and nasal CPAP. Eur Respir J. 1988;1(10):902-7. PMid:3066641 ) The use of CPAP, when appropriate, is beneficial for asthma-OSAS, having favorable effects on bronchial and systemic inflammation, reducing bronchial hyperreactivity, improving sleep architecture, reducing body weight, suppressing lecithin production by adipose tissue, improving cardiac function, and significantly reducing GER.( 7474. Alkhalil M, Schulman ES, Getsy J. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and asthma: the role of continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008;101(4):350-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60309-2
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)...
) Therefore, bronchial asthma and OSAS are two public health problems, whose interrelationship is being recognized.( 7676. Cabral MM, Mueller Pde T. Sleep and chronic lung diseases: diffuse interstitial lung diseases, bronchial asthma, and COPD [Article in Portuguese]. J Bras Pneumol. 2010;36 Suppl 2:53-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132010001400014 PMid:20944983
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132010...
) It is expected that an understanding of this process can provide the basis for the development of new treatment strategies.( 7676. Cabral MM, Mueller Pde T. Sleep and chronic lung diseases: diffuse interstitial lung diseases, bronchial asthma, and COPD [Article in Portuguese]. J Bras Pneumol. 2010;36 Suppl 2:53-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132010001400014 PMid:20944983
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132010...
)

Final considerations

Although the association between OSAS and asthma is common, it is poorly investigated. If left untreated, OSAS can contribute to the lack of control of asthma, especially nocturnal asthma symptoms. In patients with asthma, OSAS should be investigated whenever there is inadequate control of nocturnal asthma symptoms despite the treatment recommended by guidelines having been administered. There is evidence in the literature that CPAP therapy is effective in terms of symptom remission and contributes to asthma control in asthma patients with OSAS and uncontrolled asthma.

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  • *
    Study carried out under the auspices of the Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sep-Oct 2013

History

  • Received
    27 Mar 2013
  • Accepted
    14 June 2013
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