ABSTRACT Sleep apnea is a common cause of somnolence often observed in older men. It is associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The association with symptoms other than somnolence is currently unclear. We conducted a cross­ sectional study to investigate whether sleep apnea is associated with the symptoms of nocturia and erectile dysfunction as well as with motor vehicle crashes. Data were obtained on 1,010 patients over four years of consecutive referrals with suspected sleep apnea to the Royal Victoria Hospital sleep-disorders clinic. Of the study population, 48% had polysomnographic sleep apnea. Severe sleep apnea was associated with a two-fold increase in the prevalence of nocturia. Erectile dysfunction among 572 men increased from 17.5% for normal subjects to 29.3% for severe sleep apnea. Sleep apnea as well as daytime somnolence were associated with a higher prevalence of motor vehicle crashes. c Patients with sleep apnea may be at an increased risk of developing nocturia and erectile dysfunction, as well as of being involved in motor vehicle crashes. RESUME L •apnee du sommeil est souvent presente chez les hommes plus ages que 40 ans et demeure une cause frequente d'un syndrome de somnolence diurne. L 'obesite et les maladies cardiovasculaires y sont associees. Les liens entre 1' apnee du sommeil et les symptomes autres que la somnolence diurne sont peu etudies. Une etude transversale a cherche a decrire si l'apnee du sommeil est associee aux symptomes de nocturie et d'impotence sexuelle, ainsi qu' aux accidents de la circulation. Les donnees de 1010 patients vus pendant 4 ans a la clinique du sommeil de I 'Hopital Royal Victoria ont ete analysees. Quarante-huit pourcent de la population al'etude a eu l'apnee du sommeil tel que con:firme par polysomnographie. La prevalence de la nocturie etait doublee chez les patients avec l'apnee du sommeil severe par rapport aux patients sans c apnee. L 'impotence sexuelle parmi 572 hommes a augmenre de 17.5% chez ceux ayant une polysomnographie normale a 29.3% chez ceux demontrant de 1'apnee du sommeil severe. La presence de la respiration perturbee par le sommeil et la somnolence diurne ont ete associees avec un taux eleve d'accidents de la circulation. Les patients avec l'apnee du sommeil peuvent presenter un risque plus eleve de deve1opper la nocturie et I'impotence sexuelle, ainsi que de subir un accident de la circulation. 0 ii - TOMARIE c iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT....................................................................................................... .i RESUME ........................................................................................................... .ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. .iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................... vi ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................. viii PREFACE .......................................................................................................... .ix AUTHORSHIP ..................................................................................................xi STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 1 1.1 Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, and Sleep-Disordered c Breathing. .. ......................................................................................................... 2 1.1.1 Definitions ...................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Natural History .............................................................................. 3 1.1.3 Epidemiology ................................................................................. 4 1.1.4 Neuropsychiatric Consequences .................................................... S 1.1. 5 Autonomic Consequences ............................................................ ! 0 1.2 Erectile dysfunction.................................................................................... l2 1.2.1 Definition and Classification ...................................................... 12 1.2.2 Epidemiology and Physiology ..................................................... 13 1.2.3 Links with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Sleep-Disordered Breathing.......................................................................................... .... 14 1.3 Nocturia...................................................................................................... 15 1.3.1 Definitions .................................................................................. 15 1.3.2 Epidemiology and lmpact........................................................... l6 1.3.3 Links with Obstructive SleepApnea Syndrome and Sleep-Disordered Breathing.......................................................................................... ... 17 1.4 Motor Vehicle Crashes............................................................................... 18 1. 4.1 Definitions and Classification ..................................................... 18 1.4.2 Epidemiology ............................................................................... 19 1.4.3 Links with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Sleep-Disordered Breathing.............................................................................................. 22 0 1.5 Study Objectives and Presentation of Articles ........................................... 23 iv - 1.6 Bibliography............................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 2: Sleep Apnea and Erectile Dysfunction...................................... 36 2.1 Preface To The Manuscript......................................................................... 37 2.2 Abstract. ...................................................................................................... 38 2.3 Introduction................................................................................................. 39 2.4 Methods....................................................................................................... 41 2.5 Results ......................................................................................................... 45 2.6 Discussion.................................................................................................... Sl 2. 7 Bibliography............................................................................................... 54 CHAPTER 3: Sleep Apnea and Nocturia. ......................................................... 58 3.1 Preface To The Manuscript. ......................................................................... 59 3.2 Abstract. ....................................................................................................... 60 3.3 Introduction.................................................................................................. 61 3.4 Methods ........................................................................................................ 62 3.5 Results .......................................................................................................... 65 3.6 Discussion.................................................................................................... 69 3.7 Bibliography................................................................................................. 71 c CHAPTER 4: Sleep Disordered Breathing and Motor Vehicle Crashes............ 73 4.1 Preface To The Manuscript. .......................................................................... 74 4.2 Abstract......................................................................................................... 7 5 4.3 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7 6 4.4 Methods ......................................................................................................... 78 4.5 Results ........................................................................................................... 81 4.6 Discussion..................................................................................................... 88 4. 7 Bibliography .................................................................................................. 91 CHAPTER 5: Summary, Conclusion, and Implications for Future Study......... 95 5.1 Summary ....................................................................................................... 95 5.2 Conclusion..................................................................................................... 96 5.3 Implications for Future Study........................................................................ 97 5.3.1 Syndrome Definition with Sleep Disordered Breathing............................ 97 5.3.2 Quality of Life With Sleep Apnea and Sleep Disordered Breathing......... 98 5.3.3 Risk Stratification of Drivers With Suspected Sleep Apnea. .................... 98 5.4 Bibliography..............................................................................................