Sleep in postpolio syndrome

Abstract

Post-polio patients may develop additional neuromuscular and respiratory symptoms decades after the acute attack, the post-polio syndrome. We hypothesize some post-polio symptoms may be due to breathing disorders occurring during sleep. We performed polysomnography on 13 postpolio patients: group I (five patients) were those already on ventilatory assistance (rocking beds) and group 2 (eight patients), those without any assistance. Patients requiring new treatment were then evaluated on nasal CPAP or nasal mask ventilation. Group 1 patients, on rocking beds, demonstrated consistently poor sleep quality with decreased total sleep time, sleep efficiency, percentage stage 2, slow wave sleep, rapid eye movement sleep and an increase in the number of arousals and percentage stage 1 sleep. Respiratory abnormalities were also present and in all cases caused significant O2 desaturation. These patients did not respond to CPAP with the rocking bed. Repeat night-time polysomnography on nasal mask ventilation demonstrated an improvement in sleep structure and gas exchange. Three group 2 patients, (group 2a) had sleep within normal limits. The five remaining (group 2b) had poor sleep quality that was similar to but not as disrupted as group 1 patients. All but one patient demonstrated obstructive or mixed apnea and were treated effectively with nasal CPAP. One patient required nasal mask ventilation (due to mixed apnea and marked hypoventilation) to which there was a dramatic response. These patients demonstrated improved sleep quality and an improvement in daytime symptomatology. Sleep studies should be performed on post-polio patients with excessive daytime sleepiness and respiratory complaints. Those with obstructive and mixed apnea can often be treated with nasal CPAP. Those with hypoventilation syndrome and sleep apnea attributable to sleepiness and respiratory complaints. Those with obstructive and mixed apnea can often be treated with nasal CPAP. Those with hypoventilation syndrome and sleep apnea attributable to respiratory muscle weakness can be treated with nasal mask ventilation. Individuals already on respiratory assistance such as rocking beds who have features of respiratory failure can also be treated effectively with long-term nasal mechanical ventilation.