Cerebral and Systemic Haemodynamics in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Studies into Mechanisms

Unit Code

01275

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine
Western Hospital
Gordon Street
Footscray
Victoria 3011 Australia

web: www.wh.org.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 75

Coursework Points: 25

top of page

Contacts

Unit Coordinator:


Dr David Cunnington
Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine
Western Hospital
Gordon Street
Footscray
Victoria 3011 Australia

tel: +61 3 8345 6842
email: david.cunnington@wh.org.au

Alternative Contact:

Mrs Christine Schuliga
Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine
Western Hospital
Gordon Street
Footscray
Victoria 3011 Australia

tel: +61 3 8345 6842/8345 6169
fax: +61 3 9318 6342
email: chris.shuliga@wh.org.au

top of page

Overall Objectives

The objectives of this AMS for the students are:

• Understand the pathophysiology, symptoms, management and possible long-term sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• Understand the role of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) in management of patients with OSA.
• Gain an understanding of physiological research methodology including concepts governing the ethics of research and formation of hypotheses, aims and methods in research.
• Gain a basic understanding of statistics used in quantitative research. This would include the use of Power Calculations for subject numbers, the use of descriptive statistics and the use of uni and multivariate logistic regression calculations.
• Obtain knowledge of the interactions of hypoxia/hypercapnia and acute changes of cerebral blood flow in normal subjects and patients with OSA.
• Obtain knowledge of the interactions of hypoxia/hypercapnia and acute systemic haemodynamic changes in normal subjects and patients with OSA.
• Explore the effects of respiratory resistive loads on cerebral blood flow and systemic haemodynamics in normal subjects and subjects with OSA.
• Obtain knowledge of three months of CPAP therapy on hypoxic/hypercapnic and respiratory resistive loads effects on cerebral blood flow and systemic haemodynamics in patients with OSA.

top of page

Content

Coursework: Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics: 12.5 points.
Scoring of sleep staging and respiration (Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine, Western Hospital): 12.5 points.

Research: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 24% of men and 9% of women aged 50 years or older. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong relationship between the degree of OSA and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, as well as hypertension. The mechanism by which OSA causes these vascular diseases is not clear, and is the subject of this study. The study aims to investigate the role of: hypoxia - continuous and intermittent, resistive inspiratory load, upper airway occlusion and hypercapnea in the acute haemodynamic response to obstructive apneas, and the chronic haemodynamic changes seen in those with sleep apnea.

Sample Research Topics:

1. Compare the effects of intermittent hypoxia on cerebral blood flow and systemic haemodynamics in normal subjects and patients with OSA.
2. Compare the effects of intermittent hpercapnea on cerebral blood flow and systemic haemodynamics in normal subjects and patients with OSA.
3. Compare the effects of inspiratory resistive loads on cerebral blood flow and systemic haemodynamics in normal subjects and patients with OSA

top of page

Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 75 points
Research Report (up to 8,000 words): 80%
Supervisor's Evaluation: 10%
Oral presentation: 10%

Coursework Component: 25 points
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics will be assessed as per the subject description.
Assessment of sleep staging and respiratory scoring knowledge as per 'Sleep Disorders Laboratory Manual'

top of page

Student Numbers

Number of places available:
2