Sleep, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and Chronic Alveolar Hypoventilation in Cystic Fibrosis: Role of Noninvasive Ventilation During Sleep

We describe sleep disturbances in patients with cystic fibrosis emphasizing treatment of abnormal breathing during sleep with noninvasive ventilation.Recent FindingsAdvances in treatment have transformed cystic fibrosis from a pediatric disorder to an adult condition. The increase in cystic fibrosis life expectancy renders these patients at high risk for nocturnal and diurnal respiratory failure. Hypoventilation during sleep precedes diurnal hypoventilation in cystic fibrosis. In advanced cases, noninvasive ventilation improves awake ABGs, respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, subjective sleep quality, and level of daily activities and attenuates sleep hypoventilation.SummaryNoninvasive ventilation can ameliorate symptoms and improve gas exchange, particularly in cystic fibrosis with advanced lung dysfunction. There is insufficient literature describing the effect of noninvasive ventilation on survival in cystic fibrosis.
Source: Current Respiratory Care Reports - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research