This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Objectives: We sought to document the prevalence and nature of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in individuals with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) as well as establish the relationship, if any, between SDB and clinical parameters of FRDA.
Methods: Eighty-two individuals with FRDA were administered the Epworth Sleepiness Scale on an annual basis for up to 3 years. Individuals were referred for a sleep study if they had an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score >8 or had clinical symptoms suggestive of SDB.
Results: From this cohort, 21 individuals underwent a sleep study and 17 were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, giving a minimum prevalence of 21%, which is greater than that found in the general population (3%–7%). Moreover, the presence of obstructive sleep apnea was significantly correlated with the duration of disease and clinical severity of FRDA.
Conclusion: It is recommended that individuals with FRDA undergo regular screening for obstructive sleep apnea to identify the need for a sleep study and subsequent treatment if SDB is diagnosed.
GLOSSARY
- BMI=
- body mass index;
- CSA=
- central sleep apnea;
- ESS=
- Epworth Sleepiness Scale;
- FARS=
- Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale;
- FRDA=
- Friedreich ataxia;
- ODI=
- Oxygen Desaturation Index;
- OSA=
- obstructive sleep apnea;
- OSAS=
- obstructive sleep apnea syndrome;
- RDI=
- Respiratory Disturbance Index;
- SDB=
- sleep-disordered breathing
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
Supplemental data at www.neurology.org
- Received December 19, 2012.
- Accepted in final form March 13, 2013.
- © 2013 American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
