The European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA): report from 22 European sleep laboratories

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Cardiovascular Research
• Genetics

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder with significant comorbidities.
• The European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) was established to facilitate research into OSA.
• Understanding OSA patient characteristics is crucial for improving clinical care and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe variations in standard clinical care for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients across Europe.
• To establish a valuable resource for genetic research in OSA.
• To analyze the initial cross-sectional data of the ESADA cohort.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre network of 22 sleep disorder centres in Europe collected data.
• Consecutive patients with suspected OSA were enrolled following local clinical standards.
• Data including anthropometrics, medical history, symptoms, and sleep studies (polysomnography or cardiorespiratory polygraphy) were recorded in a web-based form.

Main Results:

• 5,103 patients were included between March 2007 and August 2009.
• High rates of morbid obesity (21.1% males, 28.6% females) and comorbidities (49.1% cardiovascular, 32.9% metabolic) were observed.
• Patients undergoing polygraphy had a significantly lower apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) than those undergoing polysomnography.

Conclusions:

• The ESADA is a growing multicentre cohort offering unique opportunities for outcome research and genotyping.
• The initial analysis highlights a substantial burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in patients evaluated for OSA.
• Further research using the ESADA cohort can advance understanding and treatment of OSA.