Sleep related O2 desaturation in COPD patients with normoxaemia and mild hypoxyaemia

It is unknown whether daytime features predict oxygenation during sleep in COPD patients with normoxaemia or mild hypoxaemia. In this study our purpose was to evaluate by a pulse oxymeter, nocturnal desaturation in 33 COPD with PaO2 > 60 mmHg and to examine some daytime parameters as possible predictors of nocturnal hypoxaemia. A significant nocturnal desaturation has been defined by spending > or = 30% of total sleep-time with a TSTSaO2 < 90% > 30. According to this criterion we classified our patients in Desaturators (D) and Non Desaturators (ND). Our results showed that 39% of our patients were D and 61% ND. Among anthropometric and respiratory functional data we found that daytime SaO2B (r = 0.74 p < 0.001) daytime PaO2 (r = 0.47 p < 0.01) and daytime PaCO2 (r = 0.45 p < 0.05) were significantly correlated with the nocturnal oxygen desaturation and can predict the presence of sleep related hypoxaemia. In conclusion, our study confirms that a relatively high percentage of COPD patients with normoxaemia or borderline hypoxaemia exhibits significant nocturnal hypoxaemia. Further studies will suggest whether sleep related hypoxaemia deserves nocturnal oxygen therapy.