Latest in Sleep Medicine News

Physical activity (PA) provides immediate and long-term health benefits during pregnancy. While some related work exists, comprehensive evidence on PA levels and determinants during pregnancy in Jordan remains limited. This study explored PA levels and associated factors among pregnant women in northern Jordan.

sleep apnea is a prevalent global health issue. The relationship between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) ‒a composite metric of cardiovascular health (CVH)‒ and sleep apnea remains inadequately explored. This study investigates their association among U.S. adults using NHANES data.

Survival after Fontan palliation for single ventricle heart disease has improved substantially, yet the long-term trajectory remains poorly defined. The Fontan Outcomes Network, a learning health network of 38 congenital heart centers in the United States and Canada, was established to address this gap. We report baseline characteristics and early findings from the first 1121 participants enrolled in this prospective clinical registry.

Neuroimaging techniques have a rightful place in the field of psychiatry. They are essential for differential diagnosis, especially when the psychiatric presentation is atypical. Furthermore, they associate brain dysfunction with psychiatric disorders, but they cannot yet provide a definitive psychiatric diagnosis. However, from a therapeutic perspective, brain MRI is a very useful tool for neuronavigation techniques in combination with rTMS. From a neurobiological perspective, advances in genetics are allowing the development of genomic tests to guide antidepressant therapy and predict a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In addition, psychedelics such as psilocybin offer promising alternatives for the treatment of depression. Similarly, ketamine, an antagonist of NMDA-type glutamatergic receptors, has shown efficacy in the management of suicidal crises and in the treatment of depressive disorders. Finally, antagonism of orexin receptors offer a new avenue for treating insomnia.

Wearable devices are transforming cardiovascular medicine by enabling continuous monitoring of physiologic and behavioural measures outside of traditional clinical settings. Smartwatches and activity trackers, the most widely used wearables, employ motion and biometric sensors to measure physical activity, sleep quality, heart rate, and rhythm. By converting health goals into objective, quantifiable measures, wearable devices empower patients to assume a more active role in their health while providing clinicians with novel opportunities for longitudinal, real-world assessment. Clinical applications span the cardiovascular continuum from lifestyle interventions targeting physical activity and sleep to the remote management of chronic conditions such as heart failure. Widespread clinical adoption of wearables remains limited by challenges, such as variability in device methodology, data outputs, validation, and intended use; incompatibility with existing electronic health records; and the lack of standardized, evidence-based workflows for clinicians to efficiently interpret and act upon wearable data. This review summarizes the current landscape of wearable technologies in cardiovascular medicine by highlighting key clinical applications, evidence gaps in the existing literature, the role of artificial intelligence, and barriers to implementation. We discuss strategies to enhance clinical integration and strengthen the current evidence base while also providing practical guidance to help clinicians navigate commonly encountered clinical scenarios.

To assess whether submucosal ablation of turbinates (SAT) at the time of adenotonsillectomy (AT) confers benefit in the reduction of nasal obstruction compared to AT alone.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is linked to pulmonary hypertension and cardiovascular risk, yet simple echocardiographic indices related to cardiopulmonary hemodynamics and cardiometabolic burden are limited. We evaluated ePLAR and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness as complementary, noninvasive echocardiographic markers associated with OSAS presence and severity in newly diagnosed patients.

Menopausal syndrome (MPS) results from declining ovarian function and estrogen fluctuations during the menopausal transition, typically presenting with vasomotor, psychological, and metabolic symptoms that impair quality of life. Current treatments, including hormone replacement therapy and nonhormonal medications, are limited by safety concerns and adverse effects. The Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) pill, a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, is widely used for kidney-yin deficiency and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Preliminary studies suggest favorable efficacy and safety; however, robust real-world evidence, particularly in combination with conventional Western therapy, remains insufficient.

Sleep disorders occur in almost one out of three people and are therefore among the most common disorders that physicians encounter in their practice. They often also present in the context of mental disorders. While it was previously assumed that they were merely a symptom of mental illness, current literature emphasizes the bidirectional connection between sleep and mental disorders. Even in the most common sleep disorders, namely sleep-related breathing disorders, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome / periodic limb movement disorder, reciprocal and sometimes complex interactions between sleep and the mental health are found. A diagnostic classification is often successful based on a targeted and sleep-specific medical history and can then be efficiently narrowed down using a step-by-step diagnostic approach. Due to the bidirectional connection between sleep and mental disorders, it is crucial to also inquire about mental symptoms in sleep disorders and to consider sleep in mental disorders. If a sleep disorder occurs together with a mental disorder, it is essential to treat both disorders specifically. While nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure therapy is the primary treatment for sleep-related breathing disorders, insomnia is ideally treated with cognitive behavioural therapy. Interestingly, this treatment also shows effects on the associated mental disorder. Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder, on the other hand, are usually treated pharmacologically, with particular attention to the association with psychotropic medications.

Depressive syndromes are among the most common mental conditions in primary care. They are associated with high morbidity and relevantly reduced quality of life. General practitioners (GPs) play a central role in early detecting and diagnosing depression as well as in initial treatment. This paper summarises the new Swiss treatment recommendations and gives an overview of evidence-based treatment algorithms with a focus on applicability in primary care. Diagnosis is based on core symptoms of depression. In addition to a structured anamnesis, validated instruments for screening and development of symptoms should be used. Further, somatic causes should be excluded using basic laboratory tests and, if indicated, neuroimaging. Treatment depends on the severity of depression: In mild depression, active monitoring, low-intensity interventions (e. g. self-help strategies, activation, sleep and circadian strategies, physical activity, etc.) and psychotherapy are indicated. In moderate episodes, psychotherapy or antidepressants are indicated; severe episodes require a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants. First-line antidepressants are SSRIs and SNRIs and other modern antidepressants. In case of non-response, a combination of antidepressants or augmentation with atypical antipsychotics or Lithium is recommended. Psychotherapy has proven efficacy across all severity levels, and it should be combined with antidepressants in severe episodes. In severe, psychotic and difficult to treat depressive episodes, strategies from the field of interventional psychiatry (ECT, rTMS, Esketamine) are effective. Complementary approaches such as physical activity/exercise, light therapy, or social therapy further enhance treatment outcomes. In conclusion, guideline-based multimodal care for patients starting in primary care improves outcome and prognosis for patients with depression and can reduce the risk of chronification and relapses. Key elements are structured diagnostics, early initiation of evidence-based therapy with regular valid monitoring within a strong doctor-patient-relationship.