Page 44 - MemoriaES-Eng

RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

Sleep Apnea

SLEEP APNEA. NEW TARGET POPULATIONS
Coordinator

Dr. Josep M. Montserrat
SAHS is a common condition affecting 4-6% of the adult population and 2% of in-
fants, while over 50% of the elderly population experience more than 10 events per

hour. Repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction disrupt the sleep architecture,

induce episodes of hypoxia normoxia, and activate the sympathetic system and tri-
gger systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. SAHS is typically associated

with excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, and witnessed apneas. It is considered a
cardiovascular risk factor (hypertension) as it also induces metabolic deregulation. An

incremental mortality has been described.

At this point in time the whole research picture in Sleep Apneas is about to

change in several very important ways. In fact, some changes have occurred.
Our data and those from other groups have now provided a good – or at least basic

– guide to the management of most SAHS patients. Nevertheless, new works need to

be done in a number of directions. Future research must embrace new mechanisms,
clinical studies and technological approaches but also studies of transference to the

health system to ensure cost-effective procedures, as well as transference to compa-
nies to ensure returns on research capital. Nowadays, a return on research capital is

considered an essential component of a company’s productivity and growth as well as

Medicine 2 procedures are.

Furthermore, all the research to date has been performed on the adult population
while other populations have been almost ignored. The major aim of our new pro-

gramme is to address this imbalance by investigating even more prevalent

populations of SAHS, such as those associated with age (elderly or children),
obesity such as the obesity hypoventilation syndrome, as well as other forms

that have only recently come to light – such as cancer-related SAHS and acute
coronary disease with SAHS. All these topics could open up exciting new avenues
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of research.
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T
The USA agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) (No. 12-EHC031-EF R
PO
February 2012 published a list of recommendations with respect to future research E
needs. In our project we address many of these questions with some differences. L R
A
The research we have undertaken coincides with the recommendations of NU
AHRQ especially those related to future research needs for the diagnosis and N
A
treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). These recommendations reflect very /
ES
closely not only our past research but also our current research in progress as well as ER
the one proposed. This programme tries to combine basic and clinical research B
CI
together with cost-effectiveness, translational, transference and technologi-

cal aspects to be able to produce return on the research capital invested as
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well as to use Medicine2 procedures.