Novel Physiologic-Based Approaches to Treating Sleep Apnea

Symposium — Monday, April 23, 2024 — 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM — Convention Center, Room 23
Hypoxia Group — Chair: Jerome Dempsey — Co-Chair: Melissa Bates

Sleep disordered breathing with accompanying intermittent hypoxemia occurs with significant prevalence in the general population and in a high fraction of patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). Consequences to cardiovascular health and even to mortality are well documented. The use of positive airway pressure is an effective treatment in many cases but is not tolerated or is underutilized in most obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients and may even have negative consequences in CHF. Our speakers present new concepts as alternative treatments for sleep apnea. These include hypoglossal nerve stimulation via chronically implanted electrodes and pharmacotherapies—both targeted to relieve upper airway obstruction. A third topic deals with the complex problem of treating the central instabilities in respiratory motor output attending CHF.

Speakers

• Treating upper airway muscle dysfunction via hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
  Atul Malhotra — 2259 Calle Guaymas, UCSD


• Strategic decision making and identification of potential drug targets for OSA pharmacology.
  Richard Horner — Univ. of Toronto


• Treating the apnea of heart failure: complexities and controversies.
  Shahrokh Javaheri — Univ. of Cincinnati


• CHAIR
  Jerome Dempsey —


• COCHAIR
  Melissa Bates —