SLEEP-APNEA IN SARCOIDOSIS

Background and aim of work: Sleep apnea is reported to occur in 2-4% o f the general population. Patients with sarcoidosis are at increased r isk for sleep apnea, possibly due to factors such as steroid use, neur osarcoid, or upper airway obstruction. Methods: In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for sleep apnea in sarcoidosis patient s, we studied 83 consecutive patients with sarcoidosis seen over a six - week time period. Patients were screened using the Epworth Sleepines s Scale questionnaire and the age, sex, race, weight, and medications were recorded, The presence of previously diagnosed sleep apnea, neuro sarcoid, lupus pernio, and sinus disease were also noted. A control gr oup of 91 patients seen in general pulmonary clinics were similarly sc reened. Patients with a positive sleep questionnaire were referred for sleep studies. Results: A total of 14 sarcoid patients (17%) were fou nd to have sleep apnea, which was significantly higher than our contro l group with 3/91 (3%, p < 0.001). The presence of lupus pernio was si gnificantly more frequent in the sleep apnea group, Although 5/51 (10% ) female sarcoid patients had sleep apnea, overall it was more frequen t in male sarcoid patients. Conclusions: Sleep apnea was frequent in s arcoid patients and was associated with lupus pernio.