Sleep disorders in regional sleep centers: A national cooperative study

Study Objective: In the last two decades there has been an increase in the awareness of and professional expertise in sleep disorders. The objective o f this study was to determine the spectrum of sleep-related disorders diagn osed in regional sleep centers and compare this to a previous survey publis hed in 1982. Design: A two-month prospective point-prevalence survey Setting: Nineteen accredited regional sleep centers in the United States Participants: Patients evaluated at regional sleep centers during a two-mon th period. Interventions: NA Results: Obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome we re the top three reported primary diagnoses with a prevalence of 67.8%, 4.9 %, and 3.2%, respectively. The entire range of sleep disorders, however, wa s represented in the study sample. Nearly a third of patients had either a primary or secondary diagnosis of a non-respiratory sleep disorder. Referra l physicians were most likely to be from internal medicine, pulmonary medic ine, and otolaryngology. Compared to the previous survey from 1982, there h as been an absolute increase in patient referrals/center with a two- to fou r-fold increase in the number of patients/center with a final diagnosis of a non-respiratory sleep-related problem. Moreover, there has been a greater than twenty-fold increase in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Conclusion: Regional sleep centers are encountering increasing patient refe rrals and a broad range of sleep-related disorders. The predominant reasons for referral are related to obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restl ess legs syndrome.