Rationale and Design of the Turkish Sleep Apnea Database - TURKAPNE: A National, Multicenter, Observational,...

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition with significant health implications.
• Understanding the clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of OSA patients in Turkey is crucial for effective management.
• A nationwide database is needed to capture the diverse phenotypes of OSA in the Turkish population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish The Turkish Sleep Apnea Database (TURKAPNE) as a cross-sectional nationwide registry.
• To define the clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of adult patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Turkey.
• To explore associations between OSA phenotypes, comorbidities, and adverse outcomes, including traffic accidents.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of consecutive adult patients with suspected OSA from university and research hospitals across Turkey.
• Systematic collection of data including anthropometric, lifestyle, comorbidity, and polysomnographic findings via a web-based form.
• Optional inclusion of biochemical markers, lung function, and echocardiography; follow-up on treatment and compliance.

Main Results:

• The study is ongoing, with 1911 participants enrolled from 19 centers by May 31, 2018.
• The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov in May 2016, with patient recruitment starting in October 2017.
• The target sample size for the TURKAPNE study is 10,000 participants.

Conclusions:

• The TURKAPNE study will enhance understanding of the health burden associated with OSA phenotypes in Turkey.
• Findings will elucidate the link between OSA, comorbidities, and adverse events like traffic accidents.
• Results are expected to inform personalized management strategies for diverse OSA phenotypes and co-existing disorders.