Relationship between sleeping body posture and cumulative number of sleep apnea types

Objective To investigate the relationship between sleeping body posture and cumulative number of different sleep apnea types for patients with sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(SAHS). Methods Fifty-five patients with SAHS were monitored by portable polysomnography, with four sleeping body positions(supine position,prone position, lateral position, and postural unknown) defined. The sleep apnea times of respective and total for hypoventilation, obstructive, central, mixed sleep apnea in different position were recorded. The differences for the number of times were analyzed. Results Sleep apnea times of respective and total at lateral position showed significant differences(P0.05), when lateral position compared to other positions. The number of times for respective and total of hypoventilation, obstructive, central, mixed sleep apnea at lateral position was(0.61±0.25),(3.44±1.98),(0.84±0.50),(1.29±0.58) and(6.33 ± 2.97). The other kinds of sleeping positions showed no significant difference(P0.05). Conclusion Patients with SAHS sleeping at lateral position can reduce the times of sleep apnea.