Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders: Leger D

Leger D, Metlaine A, Choudat D. · Centre du Sommeil, Hotel Dieu de Paris, 1, Place du Parvis Notre Dame, 75181 Paris Cedex 04, France. · Clin Sports Med. · Pubmed #15892923 No free full text.

Abstract: Insomnia is a common sleep complaint even in young adults and has important daytime consequences. Several subjective and objective tools are recommended to assess the magnitude of the problem and to try to find a cause. Chronic insomnia is often caused by precipitating factors, such as acute stress, work conditions, illness, and travel, and perpetuating factors, such as poor sleep hygiene, anxiety, and medications. Insomnia may have implications in athletic performance resulting from physical and cognitive effects. Several pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches are employed in the management of insomnia that have proven effective for short-term treatment. The pharmacologic approaches include the use of zolpidem and specific GABA agonists, benzodiazepines for specific indications, antidepressants, and melatonin. The nonpharmacologic approaches include stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation strategies, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Metlaine A, Leger D, Choudat D. · Sleep Disorders Center, Hotel Dieu de Paris, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris V, France. · Ind Health. · Pubmed #15732298 links to  free full text

Abstract: To determine whether insomnia impact the professional life of patients and have an economical weight, this review article focused on the socioeconomic impacts of sleep related problems in working populations. The goal is to summarise the work that has been accomplished in that field. Several occupational factors have an impact on insomnia: the work schedules (shift work and night work), the physical environment at work and the occupational stressors. Insomnia is also a common problem in daytime workers. The daytime functioning of insomniacs is a key point to understand the impact of insomnia on workers. Absenteeism is one major target in the evaluation of severe insomnia at the workplace. Most of the studies find a higher rate of work accidents in insomniacs. The economic impact is severe in term of direct and indirect costs. Insomnia is a common problem at the workplace. The negative impact is not only on individual but also at the societal levels. More epidemiological studies appear warranted to demonstrate a reciprocal link between work conditions and sleep disorders.

Leger D, Laudon M, Zisapel N. · Centre du Sommeil, Hotel-Dieu de Paris, Paris, France. · Am J Med. · Pubmed #14715322 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: Melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland at night, is an endogenous sleep regulator. Both sleep disorders and impaired melatonin production are common among the elderly. We examined the excretion of the major melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in insomnia patients aged >or=55 years and its relation with the subsequent response to melatonin therapy. METHODS: We studied 517 insomnia patients, along with 29 age-matched and 30 younger healthy volunteers. Nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion was assessed between 10 pm and 10 am. Three hundred and ninety-six of the insomnia patients were treated for 2 weeks with placebo and for 3 weeks with 2 mg per night of controlled-release melatonin, of which 372 provided complete datasets. Clinical response, assessed with the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, was defined as an improvement of 10 mm or more on the visual analog scales. RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion was lower in the insomnia patients (9.0 +/- 8.3 microg per night) than in volunteers of the same age (18.1 +/- 12.7 microg per night, P <0.05) and in younger volunteers (24.2 +/- 11.9 microg per night, P <0.05). About 30% of patients (112/372) excreted <or=3.5 microg of sulfatoxymelatonin per night, which is considered to be lower than normal for this age group. These "low excretors" had a significantly higher response to melatonin replacement therapy (58% [65/112] vs. 47% [122/260], P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Low nocturnal melatonin production is associated with insomnia in patients aged 55 years or older, and identifies patients who are somewhat more likely to respond to melatonin replacement.

Philip P, Leger D, Taillard J, Quera-Salva MA, Niedhammer I, Mosqueda JG, Bioulac B, Gérard D. · Clinique du sommeil, CHU Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. · Sleep Med. · Pubmed #16996306 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Insomnia is common and associated with poor health status and quality of life. We designed a study to evaluate the impact of insomniac complaints with and without comorbidity on health status and absenteeism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed within a 1-year follow up study on a prospective cohort of French employees. Insomniac subjects (n=986) were compared to control subjects (n=584). Insomniacs suffering from self-reported depressive feelings and behavioral and organic sleep complaints were excluded. RESULTS: Subjects with insomniac complaints (whether with mood or behavioral and organic sleep complaints or not) reported poorer quality of life and had a higher absenteeism rate than controls (9.6+/-31 versus 5.8+/-19 days, P<0.01). A logistic regression model adjusting for depressive and behavioral and organic sleep complaints showed that insomniac complaints were no longer predictive of absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Insomniac complaints are strongly associated with deterioration in quality of life but not necessarily with higher absenteeism.

Guilleminault C, Kirisoglu C, Poyares D, Palombini L, Leger D, Farid-Moayer M, Ohayon MM. · Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. · J Psychiatr Res. · Pubmed #16473570 No free full text.

Abstract: This prospective study aimed to assess symptomatic evolution of patients diagnosed with Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) four and half years after the initial UARS diagnosis. For this purpose, 138 UARS patients were contacted by mail between 43 and 69 months after the initial evaluation; 105 responded to the letter and 94 patients accepted to undergo new clinical and polysomnographic evaluations. Initial and follow-up polysomnographic recordings were scored using the same criteria. RESULTS: Of the 94 patients who completed the follow-up examination, none of them were using nasal CPAP. It was related to refusal by insurance providers to provide equipment based on initial apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in 90/94 subjects. Percentage of patients with sleep related-complaints significantly increased over the four and half year period: daytime fatigue, insomnia and depressive mood increased by 12 to 20 times. Reports of sleep maintenance sleep onset insomnia and depressive mood was significantly increased. Hypnotic, antidepressant and stimulant prescription increased from initial to follow-up visit (from 11.7% to 61.7%; from 3.2% to 25.5% and from 0% to 9.6%, respectively) with antidepressant given as much for sleep disturbance as mood disorder. The polysomnography results at follow-up showed that 5 subjects had AHI compatible with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) but overall, respiratory disturbance index had no significant change. Total sleep time was significantly reduced compared to initial visit. CONCLUSIONS: Many UARS patients remained untreated following initial evaluation. Worsening of symptoms of insomnia, fatigue and depressive mood were seen with absence of treatment of UARS.

Leger D, Poursain B. · Centre du Sommeil, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, Paris, France. · Curr Med Res Opin. · Pubmed #16307699 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to its high prevalence, considerable impact on well-being, and high medical and societal costs, insomnia represents an important healthcare challenge. Despite this, the prevalence of this condition is under-recognized and many sufferers do not receive adequate treatment. OBJECTIVE: This international survey investigated the prevalence and characteristics of insomnia in the general population in France. Italy, Japan and the USA to better understand why insomnia is under-recognized and under-treated. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Type, frequency, natural history of night- and day-time symptoms, and attitudes of people regarding the nature and treatment of insomnia was quantitatively assessed from a representative sample of the general population aged > 18 years in each of the four countries. A survey of an extensive series of standardized 10-15-min interviews was conducted over the telephone by professional interviewers. RESULTS: Insomnia was reported by 37.2% of respondents in France and Italy, 6.6% in Japan, and 27.1% in the USA. The mean number of symptoms reported per patient was two, with sleep maintenance insomnia the most predominant symptom (73%), followed by difficulty falling asleep (61%), and poor sleep quality (48%). Daytime fatigue and impaired concentration and attention were the most commonly reported next-day symptoms as a result of poor sleep. The majority of individuals with sleep problems reported being 'somewhat' or 'very' bothered by their symptoms, and reported that their sleep problems impacted on their daily quality of life either 'somewhat' or 'a lot'. Among individuals with a history of insomnia, the rate of reporting insomnia symptoms to physicians was generally low and of those who did consult a physician, few were prescribed any medication. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that in Europe, Japan and the USA, the burden of insomnia on sufferers is considerable. Many respondents took no action to alleviate their insomnia symptoms despite the poor sleep impacting on their daily quality of life either 'somewhat' or 'a lot'.

Sanchez-Ortuno M, Moore N, Taillard J, Valtat C, Leger D, Bioulac B, Philip P. · Clinique du sommeil, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pellegrin, 33076 Bordeaux, France. · Sleep Med. · Pubmed #15854855 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To explore the association between sleep duration and daily caffeine intake in a working population. Caffeine acutely disrupts sleep in the laboratory, but the inter-relations between sleep and caffeine intake in daily life are ill-known. METHODS: Questionnaire and diary based survey of 1498 persons from the GAZEL cohort of employees of the National Electricity and Gas Company (EDF-GDF) working in various locations in the Paris and South-West France areas. We analyzed total sleep time, our primary measure, and time in bed, both by sleep logs. We assessed daily intake of caffeine, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, use of hypnotics, and daytime somnolence, all by questionnaire. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis did not find a significant relationship between total sleep time and daily caffeine intake less than 8 cups of coffee per day, after controlling for age, gender, alcohol intake, smoking status, and use of hypnotics. By contrast, time in bed was reduced as caffeine intake increased (beta=-0.125; P<0.001). Higher caffeine intake was not related to a higher daytime somnolence. CONCLUSION: Despite the well-known acute effects of caffeine on sleep, habitual use of up to 7 cups of coffee (or 600 mg of caffeine equivalent) per day was not associated with decreased duration of sleep.

Leger D, Scheuermaier K, Raffray T, Metlaine A, Choudat D, Guilleminault C. · Centre du Sommeil, Service de Physiologie, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, 1 pl. du Parvis Notre Dame, 75181 Paris cedex 04, France. · Sleep Med. · Pubmed #15854848 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To design a new quality of life (QoL) instrument specifically for insomnia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on severe insomniacs' interviews, we have built a new quality of life scale that has been tested in one group of 240 severe insomniacs, in one group of 422 mild insomniacs and in one group of 391 good sleepers. Ten steps led to the construction of a specific QoL scale. RESULTS: Five dimensions have been validated as both relevant and independent from each other. Sixteen items out of the 43 initially tested were retained and significantly different within the groups in each dimension. Based on the 16 items selected, we called the scale Hotel Dieu 16 (HD-16). We have therefore verified the score's specificity (correlation score of +0.36) and the reliability of the scale (Cronbach coefficient alpha=0.78). CONCLUSION: HD-16 may be used as a focused instrument to better assess an insomniac's quality of life.

Leger D, Guilleminault C, Dreyfus JP, Delahaye C, Paillard M. · Centre du Sommeil, Hotel Dieu de Paris, France. · J Sleep Res. · Pubmed #10733687 No free full text.

Abstract: This study was an epidemiological questionnaire survey of a representative sample of the French population that included 12 778 individuals and in which adapted DSM-IV criteria for the definition of insomnia were used. Our goals were not only to assess the prevalence of 'insomnia' using these criteria, but also to compare the results obtained with those of prior studies using different definitions of 'insomnia'. The aim of this study was also to identify where areas of agreement and disagreement existed, as we believe that it is important to emphasize these points because DSM-IV recommendations are supposedly reflected in clinical practice. Seventy-three per cent of the individuals surveyed complained of a nocturnal sleep problem, but only 29% reported at least one sleep problem three times per week for a month, and 19% (2428 subjects) had at least one sleep problem three times per week for a month and complained of daytime consequences (DSM-IV criteria). Only 9% had two or more nocturnal sleep problems with daytime consequences and were classified as 'severe insomniacs'. Our study indicates that if DSM-IV criteria are used, the diagnosis of 'insomnia' is lower than in other epidemiological studies. The DSM criteria have an advantage in that they emphasize the daytime consequences of nocturnal sleep disturbances, which seem to be responsible for the most important socio-economic costs of the problem.

Leger D, Levy E, Paillard M. · Centre du Sommeil de l'Hôtel-Dieu, Hôtel Dieu de Paris, France. · Sleep. · Pubmed #10394613 No free full text.

Abstract: Several reports indicate that use of hypnotics is significantly higher in France relative to other European countries, but few reports exist concerning the cost of this high consumption of psychotropic medications. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the direct costs that may be attributed to insomnia in France. Data were derived from previously published surveys in this field. It includes the cost of sleep medications and of substances used to promote sleep, outpatient visits to physicians or to other health professionals and sleep recordings and treatment by sleep specialists. The final estimate of the total direct cost of insomnia in France in 1995 was FF 10,232,992,500 ($2,067,271,100). Public authorities have to understand that an increase in the direct costs of insomnia may be balanced by the reduction of the daytime consequences of insomnia and then by the reduction of the indirect costs of insomnia.