Sleep and sleep disorders in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death in the US. Numerous studies have demonstrated that sleep disturbances are common in COPD patients, with more prominent complaints in patients with more severe disease and with increasing age. Sleep disturbances may occur due to the effects of breathing abnormalities on sleep and sleep disruption. However, other etiologies may include the medications used to treat COPD, concomitant anxiety and depression, and the presence of comorbid sleep disorders. The respiratory disturbances that occur in these patients during sleep have been evaluated by examining sleep-related oxygen desaturation, reduction in pulmonary function during sleep, and development of hypoventilation during rapid eye movement sleep. Treatment includes use of nocturnal oxygen therapy, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, and long-acting medications. There has been little study on improving sleep quality beyond treating the respiratory disease, despite the fact that numerous studies show poor sleep quality, a high prevalence of insomnia, and tolerability of newer hypnotic agents in the setting of COPD. This article defines the scope of sleep problems in the setting of COPD, reviews the impact of sleep on ventilation, explores the role of obstructive sleep apnea in the setting of COPD, and reviews therapeutic options.