HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Van Meerhaeghe, A Articles by Kerkhofs, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Van Meerhaeghe, A Articles by Kerkhofs, M

Operating characteristics of the negative expiratory pressure technique in predicting obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in snoring patients

¹ Service de Pneumologie, CHU de Charleroi, Hôpital Vésale, Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium
² Unité du Sommeil, CHU de Charleroi, Hôpital Vésale, Montigny-le- Tilleul, Belgium

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr A Van Meerhaeghe
Service de Pneumologie, CHU de Charleroi, Hôpital André Vésale, 706 route de Gozée, Montigny-le-Tilleul, 6610 Belgium; alain.vanmeerhaeghe{at}chu-charleroi.be

Background: This study examines the operating characteristics of the expiratory flow response to a negative pressure (NEP) applied to the mouth in the prediction of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in snoring patients.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty eight patients with normal spirometric values were studied. Full laboratory polysomnography was performed and an NEP of –5 cm H₂O was applied in the sitting and supine positions.

Results: A significant correlation was found between the degree of flow limitation measured by NEP in both positions (expressed as the percentage of the expired tidal volume over which NEP induced flow did not exceed spontaneous flow) and the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI). This correlation was significantly higher in the supine position (p<0.0001) where an expiratory flow limitation cut off value of 27.5% of the tidal volume produced a sensitivity of 81.9% and a specificity of 69.1% in predicting OSAS.

Conclusion: These findings show that the degree of instability of the upper airway measured by NEP is correlated with the severity of OSAS. NEP had moderate sensitivity and specificity and may be useful in predicting OSAS in a clinic based population.

Abbreviations: AHI, apnoea-hypopnoea index; BMI, body mass index; FEF_25–75, forced mid expiratory flow; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FRC, functional residual capacity; FVC, forced vital capacity; NEP, negative expiratory pressure; OSAS, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome; VC, vital capacity

Keywords: negative expiratory pressure; snoring; obstructive sleep apnoea; operating characteristics

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. L. Dellaca, N. Duffy, P. P. Pompilio, A. Aliverti, N. G. Koulouris, A. Pedotti, and P. M. A. Calverley Expiratory flow limitation detected by forced oscillation and negative expiratory pressure Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2007; 29(2): 363 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Insalaco, S. Romano, O. Marrone, A. Salvaggio, and G. Bonsignore A New Method of Negative Expiratory Pressure Test Analysis Detecting Upper Airway Flow Limitation To Reveal Obstructive Sleep Apnea Chest, October 1, 2005; 128(4): 2159 - 2165. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Van Meerhaeghe, P. Delpire, P. Stenuit, and M. Kerkhofs Flow limitation and dynamic hyperinflation Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2005; 25(4): 772 - 772. [Full Text] [PDF]