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Sleep apnoea related hypoxia is associated with cognitive disturbances in patients with tetraplegia

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dc.contributor.authorSajkov, D.
dc.contributor.authorMarshall, R.
dc.contributor.authorWalker, P.
dc.contributor.authorMykytyn, I.
dc.contributor.authorMcEvoy, R.
dc.contributor.authorWale, J.
dc.contributor.authorFlavell, H.
dc.contributor.authorThornton, A.
dc.contributor.authorAntic, R.
dc.date.issued1998
dc.description.abstractSleep disordered breathing is common in patients with tetraplegia. Nocturnal arterial hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation due to sleep apnoea may be associated with cognitive dysfunction. We therefore studied the influence of sleep disordered breathing on neuropsychological function in 37 representative tetraplegic patients (mean age 34±9.7 years). Thirty percent (11 of 37 patients) had clinically significant sleep disordered breathing, defined as apnoea plus hypopnoea index (AHI) greater than 15 per hour of sleep. Most apnoeas were obstructive in type. Seven patients (19%) desaturated to <80% during the night. Neuropsychological variables were significantly correlated with measures of sleep hypoxia, but not with the AHI and the frequency of sleep arousals. The neuropsychological functions most affected by nocturnal desaturation were: verbal attention and concentration, immediate and short-term memory, cognitive flexibility, internal scanning and working memory. There appeared to be a weak association between the presence of severe sleep hypoxia and visual perception, attention and concentration but no association was found between sleep variables and depression scores. We concluded that sleep disordered breathing is common in patients with tetraplegia and may be accompanied with significant oxygen desaturation. The latter impairs daytime cognitive function in these patients, particularly attention, concentration, memory and learning skills. Cognitive disturbances resulting from sleep apnoea might adversely affect rehabilitation in patients with tetraplegia.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityDimitar Sajkov, Ruth Marshall, Pieter Walker, Ivanka Mykytyn, R Douglas McEvoy, Jo Wale, Howard Flavel, Andrew T Thornton and Ral Antic
dc.identifier.citationSpinal Cord, 1998; 36(4):231-239
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/sj.sc.3100563
dc.identifier.issn1362-4393
dc.identifier.issn1476-5624
dc.identifier.orcidMarshall, R. [0000-0003-1183-3502]
dc.identifier.orcidMcEvoy, R. [0000-0002-5759-0094]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/6858
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSPRINGERNATURE
dc.source.urihttp://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v36/n4/abs/3100563a.html
dc.subjectTetraplegia
dc.subjectsleep apnoea
dc.subjecthypoxia
dc.subjectcognitive impairment
dc.titleSleep apnoea related hypoxia is associated with cognitive disturbances in patients with tetraplegia
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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