Ambient temperature and obstructive sleep apnea : effects on sleep, sleep apnea and morning alertness

• Study Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ambient temperature on sleep, sleep apnea, and morning alertness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: In-hospital investigations. Participants: Forty patients with obstructive sleep apnea naive to treatment, with an apnea-hypopnea index of 10-30. Interventions: Three different nights in room temperatures of 16 degrees C, 20 degrees C, and 24 degrees C. Measurements: Overnight polysomnography and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Results: The obstructive apnea-hypopnea index was 30 +/- 17 at 16 degrees C room temperature, 28 +/- 17 at 20 degrees C, and 24 +/- 18 at 24 degrees C. The obstructive apnea-hypopnea index was higher at 16 degrees C room temperature versus 24 degrees C (P = 0.001) and at 20 degrees C room temperature versus 24 degrees C (P = 0.033). Total sleep time was a mean of 30 min longer (P = 0.009), mean sleep efficiency was higher (77 +/- 11% versus 71 +/- 13% respectively, P = 0.012), and the patients were significantly more alert according to the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (P < 0.028) in the morning at 16 degrees C room temperature versus 24 degrees C. The amount of sleep in different sleep stages was not affected by room temperature. Conclusions: Untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnea sleep longer, have better sleep efficiency, and are more alert in the morning after a night's sleep at 16 degrees C room temperature compared with 24 degrees C, but obstructive sleep apnea is more severe at 16 degrees C and 20 degrees C compared with 24 degrees C.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Sleep apnea syndromes

sleep quality

daytime sleepiness

treatment

ambient temperature

polysomnography

sleep stages

sleep time

randomized controlled trial

medicin

Medicine

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)