A physical model of inspiratory flow limitation in awake healthy subjects.

The obstructive syndrome of sleep apnea/hypopnea is characterized by repeated partial or total obstructions of the upper airways (UA) [1] resulting in intermittent asphyxia and repeated micro-arousals. Sleep disordered breathing affects about 9% of males and 4.5% of females between the ages of 30 and 60 years [2], 15% to 20% of elderly people [3] and 5% to 10% of children [4]. Sleep apnea and hypopnea events are easily identified while more subtle events, such as inspiratory flow limitation episodes, are difficult to detect. Flow limitation is the result of a partial occlusion of the upper airway during sleep.

[1]  S. Ancoli-Israel.  Epidemiology of sleep disorders. , 1989, Clinics in geriatric medicine.

[2]  D. Rapoport,et al.  Detection of flow limitation with a nasal cannula/pressure transducer system. , 1998, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[3]  D. White,et al.  Influence of sleep on tensor palatini EMG and upper airway resistance in normal men. , 1991, Journal of applied physiology.

[4]  T. Aittokallio,et al.  Analysis of inspiratory flow shapes in patients with partial upper-airway obstruction during sleep. , 2001, Chest.

[5]  T. Similowski,et al.  Application of negative expiratory pressure during expiration and activity of genioglossus in humans. , 1998, Journal of applied physiology.

[6]  J. N. Zhang,et al.  Detection of inspiratory flow limitation during sleep by computer assisted respiratory inductive plethysmography. , 2000, The European respiratory journal.

[7]  D. Navajas,et al.  Inspiratory dynamic obstruction detected by forced oscillation during CPAP. A model study. , 1997, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[8]  Remmers Je,et al.  Pathogenesis of upper airway occlusion during sleep , 1978 .

[9]  T. Young,et al.  The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. , 1993, The New England journal of medicine.

[10]  J. Dempsey,et al.  Assessment of inspiratory flow limitation invasively and noninvasively during sleep. , 1998, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[11]  S A Shea,et al.  Individuality of breathing patterns in adults assessed over time. , 1989, Respiration physiology.

[12]  K. Murphy,et al.  Evidence for reflex upper airway dilator muscle activation by sudden negative airway pressure in man. , 1991, The Journal of physiology.