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. 2007 Aug 15;3(5):455–461.

Table 3.

Comparison of Outcome Measures and Baseline Characteristics of Patients Chronically Using Opioids With Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Patients Not Using Opioids

Demographic Factors No. Chronically Using Opioids Not Using Opioids p Value
Age 60 52.7 ± 13.1 52.9 ± 13.0 0.551
Women 60 40 (66.7%) 40 (66.7%) 1.00
Body Mass Index, kg/m2 60 31.8 ± 7.7 32.5 ± 7.6 0.12
Epworth Sleepiness Scale, score 45a 11.6 ± 5.6 10.2 ± 5.8 0.263
Respiratory Outcomes
Obstructive Apnea Index, no./h 60 16.8 ± 24.0 14.2 ± 18.8 0.508
Central Apnea Index, no./h 60 12.8 ± 22.4 2.1 ± 4.1 <0.01
Hypopnea Index, no./h 60 15.3 ± 14.1 13.7 ± 13.0 0.466
Apnea-Hypopnea Index, no./h 60b 43.5 ± 35.2 30.2 ± 26.2 0.27
Total
During NREM sleep 60 43.6 ± 38.8 28.6 ± 27.2 0.24
During REM sleep 43c 37.4 ± 24.5 37.6 ± 30.4 0.977
Mean SaO2, %
During wake 60 91.0 ± 2.6 93.1 ± 1.8 <0.01
During NREM sleep 60 89.7 ± 3.3 91.9 ± 2.0 <0.01
During REM sleep 43 89.3 ± 7.0 90.5 ± 3.9 0.259
Sleep Outcomes
Recording time, min 50d 451.0 ± 42. 2 456.0 ± 36.1 0.510
Sleep time (min) 50 336.0 ± 78.5 348.5 ± 77.5 0.351
Sleep stage, %
1 50 8.0 ± 11.7 19.2 ±11.6 <0.01
2 50 78.0 ± 10.8 64.6 ±13.5 <0.01
3 50 1.2 ± 3.0 1.4 ±3.2 0.783
4 50 0.1 ± 0.6 0.2 ± 0.6 0.626
REM 50 12.0 ± 8.5 13.3 ±7.0 0.399

Data are presented as mean ± SD, except for women, which are presented as number (%). NREM refers to non-rapid eye movement.

a

Apneas and hypopneas were calculated for all 60 pairs of patients, but continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or oxygen therapy was implemented partway through the study in 8 patients in the opioid group and 3 in the control group, and only the room-air portion of study was included in the calculation.

b

Not all patients completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

c

Not all patient pairs exhibited rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when breathing room air.

d

Sleep measures were not included in the analysis for patient pairs in which 1 or both received CPAP or oxygen partway through the night.