Objective: The clinical importance of co-occurring periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) in the context of sleep-related breathing disorders remains unclear. We aimed to explore the frequency, association, and clinical significance of PLMS in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing polysomnography. Material and Methods: Polysomnographies conducted at our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' demographic characteristics and polysomnographic parameters were recorded. An Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥5 was considered indicative of OSA, and a Periodic Limb Movement Index ≥15 was considered indicative of PLMS. Those with an AHI<5 were classified as the control group. Results: The study involved 331 patients, with an average age of 49 and 202 (61%) being male. Among these, 275 (83.08%) had OSA (AHI≥5), with 45 (16.4%) also presenting PLMS. No significant difference in PLMS positivity was found between OSA patients and the control group (AHI<5) (p=0.47). Patients with OSA and PLMS exhibited significantly higher ages and body mass index (p=0.013 and p=0.006), shorter REM duration, lower sleep efficiency, higher sleep desaturation index, lower average oxygen saturation, and higher heart rate (p=0.013, p=0.01, p<0.001, p=0.01, and p=0.049). Conclusion: In OSA patients with PLMS, sleep efficiency, REM duration, and oxygen saturation levels were lower, while the sleep desaturation index and heart rate were higher. These findings suggest that PLMS negatively impacts sleep quality and may contribute to OSA severity. Considering the potential of inadequate sleep to lead to cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, the presence of PLMS alongside OSA should be carefully evaluated to improve patient outcomes.
Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea; periodic limb movements in sleep
Amaç: Uyku ile ilişkili solunum bozukluklarına eşlik eden uykuda periyodik bacak hareketlerinin [periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS)] klinik önemi net değildir. Bu çalışmada, polisomnografi yapılan hastaların; PLMS sıklığını, obstrüktif uyku apnesi [obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)] ile ilişkisini ve klinik önemini araştırmayı amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kliniğimizde gerçekleştirilen polisomnografi sonuçları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastaların demografik özellikleri ve polisomnografik parametreleri kaydedildi. Apne-Hipopne İndeksi (AHİ) ≥5 OSA'yı, Periyodik Bacak Hareketi İndeksi ≥15 ise PLMS'yi işaret edecek şekilde değerlendirildi. AHİ<5 olanlar kontrol grubu olarak sınıflandırıldı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya toplam 331 hasta dâhil edildi. Bunların 202'si (%61) erkek olup, yaş ortalaması 49'dur. Bu hastaların 275'inde (%83,08) OSA (AHİ≥5) saptandı ve bunların 45'inde (%16,4) PLMS eşlik ediyordu. OSA hastaları ile kontrol grubu (AHİ<5) arasında PLMS pozitifliği açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı (p=0,47). PLMS eşlik eden OSA hastalarının yaşı ve beden kitle indeksi anlamlı derecede daha yüksekti (p=0,013 ve p=0,006), REM süresi daha kısaydı, uyku verimliliği düşüktü, uyku desaturasyon indeksi daha yüksekti, ortalama oksijen saturasyonu daha düşüktü ve kalp atım hızı daha yüksekti (p=0,013, p=0,01, p<0,001, p=0,01 ve p=0,049). Sonuç: PLMS'nin eşlik ettiği OSA hastalarında uyku verimliliği, REM süresi ve oksijen saturasyon seviyeleri daha düşük, uyku desaturasyon indeksi ve kalp atım hızı ise daha yüksekti. Bu bulgular, PLMS'nin uyku kalitesini olumsuz etkilediğini ve OSA'nın şiddetini artırabileceğini göstermektedir. Yetersiz uykunun kardiyo-serebrovasküler hastalıklara yol açma potansiyeli göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, OSA ile birlikte PLMS varlığı dikkatle değerlendirilmeli ve hasta sonuçlarını iyileştirmek için ele alınmalıdır.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Obstrüktif uyku apnesi; uykuda periyodik bacak hareketleri
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