Nocturnal oxyhaemoglobin desaturation is common in cystic fibrosis (CF) but the effect on quality of life (QoL) remains unknown.
METHODS: Sixty stable CF outpatients with mean age 31±8years (mean±1SD), BMI 20.8±3.2kg/m(2) and FEV(1) 42±13% predicted had arterial blood gas sampling, lung function testing, overnight pulse oximetry and completed the CF QoL questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale.
RESULTS: 11 (18%) of the CF patients were 'desaturators,' (SpO(2)<90% for ≥30% recording time on overnight oximetry). Desaturators had greater difficulty performing their treatments (39±22 vs 61±26, p<0.01) and more exertional dyspnoea (3.2±0.8 vs 2.0±0.9, p<0.001) than non-desaturators after controlling for the effects of FEV(1), awake PaO(2) and PaCO(2) (adjusted p-values <0.01 and 0.04 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Nocturnal oxyhaemoglobin desaturation is associated with impaired QoL, independent of the effects of lung function and awake gas exchange, in stable CF outpatients with moderate to severe lung disease.
Authors: Young AC, Wilson JW, Kotsimbos TC, Naughton MT
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