NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Obstructive sleep apnea in community members exposed to World Trade Center dust and fumes.

Ahuja S; Zhu Z; Shao Y; Berger KI; Reibman J; Ahmed O

J Clin Sleep Med 2018 May; 14(5):735-743

https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7094

20051620

Study Objectives: A relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and exposure to the World Trade Center (WTC) dust and fumes has been suggested in responders but little is known about a possible relationship in community members. We characterized sleep studies performed in community members with WTC dust exposure to improve our understanding of the relationship between the diagnosis and severity of OSA and WTC dust exposure in this population. Methods: Single-center, retrospective study of patients enrolled in a clinical treatment program for community members with WTC dust exposure. Patients were included if they had undergone sleep studies for evaluation of possible OSA through September 2016 and provided written informed consent. Results: The total number of patients included in the analysis was 143. Patients were predominantly male (61%), never smokers (59%) and had a median body mass index of 31 kg/m2. Most reported upper and lower respiratory symptoms. An apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >/= 5 events/h was measured in 66% of the patients, and respiratory disturbance index was >/= 5 events/h in 97%. The proportion of patients with moderate-severe OSA (defined by the AHI 4% criteria) was 50%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that acute WTC dust cloud exposure was associated with severity but not diagnosis of OSA. Conclusions: We identified a high rate of OSA in the WTC community cohort who were referred for sleep studies. Exposure to the massive WTC dust cloud caused by the WTC collapse was independently associated with the severity of OSA in this population. This finding highlights the role that environmental exposures may play in the development of OSA.

World Trade Center; WTC; Sleep disorders; Dusts; Fumes; Community health; Author Keywords: environment; inflammation; obstructive sleep apnea; particulate matter; rhinitis; upper airway; World Trade Center

Omer Ahmed, MD, New York University School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, Room Bellevue Hospital 7N24, New York, NY 10016

20180515

Journal Article

ahmed@nyumc.org

Contract

2018

Contract-200-2017-93327; Contract-200-2017-93427

5

1550-9389

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

NY

NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H): NYC H+H Data Center