Individuals With Scleroderma May Have Increased Risk of Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Pulmonology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease characterized by skin thickening and potential cardiopulmonary complications.
• Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a potential complication arising from upper airway abnormalities in scleroderma patients.
• Understanding the prevalence of SDB in scleroderma is crucial for managing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and risk of sleep-disordered breathing in patients diagnosed with scleroderma.
• To determine the association between scleroderma and the occurrence of SDB.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of electronic health records for 171 patients with documented scleroderma.
• Data abstracted included antibody tests, pulmonary function tests, echocardiography, CT scans, and overnight oximetry.
• SDB was identified by abnormal overnight forehead oximetry results (Oxygen Desaturation Index > 5 or mean arterial oxygen saturation < 90%).

Main Results:

• 171 scleroderma patients were identified (mean age 56.5 years, 86.7% female).
• 31.2% of patients exhibited abnormal overnight oximetry, indicating SDB.
• The prevalence of SDB was twice that of pulmonary hypertension and similar to interstitial lung disease in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• Sleep-disordered breathing is a significant finding in approximately one-third of scleroderma patients.
• The prevalence of SDB in scleroderma patients is comparable to other known cardiopulmonary complications.
• Further prospective studies are warranted to elucidate the impact of SDB on scleroderma clinical outcomes.