Seven of these 14 patients were found to have sleep apnea. All patients were then converted to nocturnal hemodialysis, operated at Humber River Region Hospital which not only improved the treatment of their renal failure, but also corrected their sleep apnea. This study highlights the prevalence of sleep apnea in patients with chronic renal failure and identifies a new therapy for significantly improving both medical disorders. In addition to improving quality of life, this may also improve the cardiovascular complications and mortality associated with chronic renal failure and sleep apnea, says Hanly. The extended hours of nocturnal hemodialysis and the way it is administered offers many advantages to patients, says study investigator Dr. Andreas Pierratos, primary investigator of the Nocturnal Hemodialysis Project and associate professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Patients have more energy, better control of anemia, and enjoy a free diet.
Patients also benefit from being able to return to work because they feel better and are free during the day. While this study effectively outlines the benefits of nocturnal hemodialysis for patients, especially those suffering from sleep apnea, research is ongoing. Future research will focus on determining the mechanisms by which sleep apnea develops in chronic renal failure, how sleep apnea may alter the clinical outcome of patients on dialysis, and how conventional modes of dialysis can be modified to improve associated sleep apnea. The Sleep Medicine Program at St. Michael s Hospital consists of a multidisciplinary clinical program, an education program for physicians and technologists and an active research program. Current research interests include the epidemiology of snoring and sleep apnea, sleep disorders in patients with both renal and heart failure, and the pathogenesis of sleep disruption in the critically ill.