SLEEP STUDIES IN ASTHMATIC ADULTS - RELATIONSHIP OF ATTACKS TO SLEEP STAGE AND TIME OF NIGHT

Twelve adult asthmatic patients were studied for 35 nights with EEG, electromyogram, and eye movements continuously recorded. A total of 93 asthmatic episodes were observed. Of these, 73 occurred out of nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, 18 from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and 2 after lengthy awake periods. The attacks occurred throughout the night, with lowered incidence only in the first hour of sleep. Thus no clear-cut relationship was noted between asthmatic attacks and sleep stages and/or time of night. The sleep patterns of the young adult asthmatic patients were compared with normal young adults previously studied. The asthmatic young adults had considerably less total sleep time because of frequent awakenings after sleep onset and early final awakenings. The time of onset of sleep was similar in the two groups. The asthmatic young adults had significantly less stage 4 sleep, while the percentage of REM sleep was similar to that of normal young adults. The sleep patterns of asthmatic patients taking adrenal corticosteroids were compared with those who were not. No differences were noted in sleep latency, total sleep time, and number of REM periods nightly. There were only slight differences (nonsignificant) between the two groups in the percentages of time spent in the various sleep stages. The study did not support the hypothesis that asthmatic episodes were specifically related to REM sleep nor did it support other theories linking nocturnal asthmatic episodes with the nocturnal ebb in adrenal secretion, with disturbing dreams, or with allergenic influences. It was concluded that nocturnal asthmatic attacks are multidetermined, with factors such as recumbency, 17-OH corticosteroid levels, anxiety, dreaming, and depth of sleep playing roles varying from subject to subject. © 1968.