[Diagnostic findings in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in nCPAP therapy]

The outpatient measurement with the ME-SAM IC system, including the analysis of heart rate, respiration sounds, continuous oxygen saturation and body position, is an important part in a stepped concept for diagnosis and therapy of patients with an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We investigated the importance of these parameters as well as age and Broca in relation to the continuous positive airway pressure determined in the sleep laboratory. In this study we present the first 60 patients (56 m, 4 f) treated successfully with nCPAP. The mean age was 53.1 +/- 8.6 years, the Broca Index 133.6 +/- 22.9, the respiratory disturbance index (RDI, apnea + hypopnea index) 48.1 +/- 22.7, the mean nocturnal oxygen saturation 90.4 +/- 3.8% and the mean minimal oxygen saturation 84.4 +/- 4.2%. We found positive significant correlation between Broca, RDI and oxygen saturation as well as between Broca and age. The mean effective continuous positive airway pressure was 9.7 +/- 2.1 cm H2O in our group of OSAS patients. With an increase in RDI and with a decrease in age and oxygen saturation we found an significant increase in the effective continuous positive airway pressure. A positive correlation between Broca and air pressure could be seen, but was not significant. Our data show that there is a strong correlation between constitution, the outpatient measurement with MESAM-system and the effective positive airway pressure in patients with a pronounced obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (RDI > 15 and marked clinical symptoms). The knowledge about these relationships should be considered in the nCPAP therapy and during the long term medical care of treated patients.