Association between overnight repetitive respiratory events and the accumulation of genioglossus fatigue in male patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea

To evaluate the correlation between median frequency (MF) as a measure of genioglossus (GG) fatigue and overnight repetitive respiratory events in male patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

GG electromyography (EMG) data were collected synchronously with polysomnography (PSG). Overnight respiratory events were divided based on whether they occurred during the first or second halves of the total number of overnight respiratory events, and differences in MF in the respiratory phase were compared in the same segments. Events were then sampled in pairs to compare MF. The correlation between MF and the order of respiratory events, as well as interindividual differences, were analyzed.

Twenty-two male patients were enrolled in this study and 2210 respiratory events were recorded. Before and during respiratory events, MF decreased significantly in the second half, especially during the inspiratory phase (segments 1–4: P = 0.014, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). This trend was observed in non-rapid eye movement sleep and lateral position, but not in rapid eye movement sleep or the supine position, and remained after pairing for duration, stage, and position. MF correlated negatively with the order of respiratory events during the inspiratory phase. The trend of decrease in MF only existed in patients with apnea–hypopnea index > 30 events/h.

Overnight repetitive respiratory events were associated with increased GG fatigue, influenced by sleep stage and body position in male patients with severe OSA. GG fatigue depends on the order and frequency of respiratory events.