Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108772
Kai Fricke , Philip Heesen , Noriane A. Sievi , Esther I. Schwarz , Thomas Gaisl , Malcolm Kohler , Maurice Roeder
{"title":"Expert panel perspectives on multi-night testing for obstructive sleep apnoea: A Delphi study","authors":"Kai Fricke , Philip Heesen , Noriane A. Sievi , Esther I. Schwarz , Thomas Gaisl , Malcolm Kohler , Maurice Roeder","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is typically diagnosed with single-night sleep studies, yet night-to-night variability may lead to diagnostic misclassification and affect treatment decisions. The clinical role of multi-night testing remains uncertain.</div></div><div><h3>Study design and methods</h3><div>We conducted a two-round modified Delphi study involving 13 international sleep medicine experts to explore consensus on indications, timing, conduction, and interpretation of multi-night testing. Structured questionnaires and anonymised feedback were employed across rounds. Consensus was defined as ≥70 % agreement.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Consensus was achieved on 12 of 17 statements (71 %). Experts supported multi-night testing in cases of suspected night-to-night-variability in OSA, borderline apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI), or when clinical impressions are incongruent with test results. A three-night protocol was considered a practical balance between diagnostic yield and feasibility. The mean AHI across valid nights was endorsed to guide treatment decisions. Experts also supported limiting the interval between test nights to one month to minimise physiological confounders.</div><div>No consensus was reached regarding the suitability of simplified tools (e.g. oximetry) are appropriate for extended monitoring, and uncertainty remains about how best to integrate multi-night data into clinical decision-making.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>Expert opinion supports selective multi-night testing in diagnostically uncertain OSA cases. A three-night protocol and mean AHI-based treatment recommendation thresholds were endorsed. These findings highlight the limitations of single-night assessments and identify priority areas for future research and standardisation before broad implementation into clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108772"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145967093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108793
Dongfang Wang , Bingna Xu , Chengjin Gao , Shuping Chen , Yunge Fan , Fang Fan
{"title":"Joint trajectories of sleep disturbance and psychotic-like experiences in adolescents: patterns, influential factors, and their associations with mental health problems","authors":"Dongfang Wang , Bingna Xu , Chengjin Gao , Shuping Chen , Yunge Fan , Fang Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108793","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108793","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Sleep disturbance and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are common among adolescents and young adults. However, few studies have explored the longitudinal co-development of sleep disturbance and PLEs in this age group. The current study examines their joint trajectories, influential factors and consequences, using a three-wave adolescent cohort.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 7529 adolescents reported sleep disturbance and PLEs during April 21- May 12, 2021 (Time 1, T1), December 17–26, 2021 (Time 2, T2), and May 17 - June 6, 2022 (Time 3, T3). Self-report measures were also used to collect demographic characteristics and lifestyle variables at baseline, evaluate family function at T1, assess resilience at T2, measure depression and anxiety at T1 and T3, and record negative life events at T2 and T3. A parallel-process latent class growth analysis identified joint trajectories of sleep disturbance and PLEs, and multinomial logistic regressions examined the correlates and outcomes of these trajectories.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three trajectories were identified: a low-risk group (72.1 %), a pure-sleep disturbance group (18.7 %), and a chronic co-occurring group (9.2 %). Sex, age, parental marital status, having siblings, alcohol use, baseline depression/anxiety, family function, resilience, and negative life events were significantly associated with class membership. Compared with the low-risk group, adolescents in both the pure-sleep-disturbance and chronic co-occurring groups showed a higher risk of subsequent depression and anxiety.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings highlight the heterogeneity of sleep disturbance - PLEs comorbidities among adolescents. They also emphasize the potential contributing factors of these comorbidities and their adverse impacts on later mental health. Individualized interventions should be provided for adolescents, especially those in vulnerable and higher-risk groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108793"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108787
Zulkayda Mamat , Rumia B. Owaisi , Sarif Alrai , Ayse Kaya Goktepe , Jacob White , Peter J. Bayley , Khalid Elzamzamy
{"title":"Dreams of the deceased: A scoping and mixed-methods systematic review","authors":"Zulkayda Mamat , Rumia B. Owaisi , Sarif Alrai , Ayse Kaya Goktepe , Jacob White , Peter J. Bayley , Khalid Elzamzamy","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This systematic scoping review (ScR) and mixed-methods systematic review (MMSR) investigates dreams of the deceased (DoD), i.e., experiences where individuals dream of deceased loved ones. We examined prevalence, characteristics of dreamers and the deceased, functions of these dreams, and cultural interpretations. A comprehensive search across five academic databases resulted in 4030 reports initially found, yielding 110 publications for the ScR and 76 for the MMSR. The ScR identified that 60.9 % of the reports were published after 2010, with 51.8 % originating from the USA. The MMSR revealed that qualitative methodologies dominated the literature (73.7 %). Our findings suggest that DoD are prevalent across diverse cultural contexts and serve significant emotional functions related to grief processing. Common themes included feelings of comfort, guidance, and continued connection with deceased loved ones. The impact of these dreams tended to be positive, suggesting their role in facilitating emotional healing. Overall, this review underscores the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration to deepen our understanding of DoD and their implications for grieving processes and cultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108787"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108771
Minarti Usman, Erma Pratiwi Nufi
{"title":"Why bedtime planning fails in Indonesia: A critical Global-South perspective on university student sleep","authors":"Minarti Usman, Erma Pratiwi Nufi","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108771","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108771","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108771"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146019680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108797
Roberto Rodríguez-Labrada , Luis Velázquez-Pérez
{"title":"Unravelling the cerebellum's role in sleep regulation: Prospects for precision sleep medicine","authors":"Roberto Rodríguez-Labrada , Luis Velázquez-Pérez","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108797","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108797","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cerebellum, traditionally associated with motor coordination, is increasingly recognized as a regulator of non-motor functions—including cognition and emotions. However, its involvement in sleep regulation has been comparatively overlooked, mainly due to the historical exclusion of the cerebellum from electrophysiological and neuroimaging sleep research. Growing evidence now identifies the cerebellum as an active component of sleep mechanisms in both physiological and clinical contexts. Supporting findings include: (1) extensive cerebellar connectivity with major sleep-regulatory circuits; (2) state-dependent cerebellar neuronal activity synchronized with neocortical oscillations during NREM and REM sleep; (3) alterations in sleep patterns following cerebellar electrical stimulation; (4) differential expression of sleep-related genes in the cerebellum; (5) intrinsic cerebellar circadian rhythmicity; (6) structural and functional cerebellar changes in primary sleep disorders; and (7) high prevalence of sleep disturbances in cerebellar pathologies. Collectively, these data suggest that the cerebellum is deeply engaged in key sleep mechanisms, including the generation and modulation of sleep-related brain rhythms—such as sleep spindles—, sleep-dependent memory consolidation, and likely compensatory processes in sleep disruption. Nevertheless, fundamental mechanistic questions remain unresolved, particularly whether the cerebellum performs predictive modeling during sleep to support offline cognitive processing. Elucidating these computational functions and harnessing cerebellar neuroplasticity may advance our understanding of the intricate links between sleep, cognition, and emotion, while inspiring next-generation therapeutic approaches in sleep medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108797"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108773
Xiaoqiu Liu , Yilin Wang , Lihua Zheng , Dongliang Li , Xiaoyuan Wang , Hongyu Yang , Kun Wang , Jie Ma , Wei Liu , Shuiling Wang , Ke Qiao , Yun Li
{"title":"Effect of an internet-based, mobile terminal-supported, family-participatory early rehabilitation model on sleep improvement and stigma prevention in critically ill patients: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Xiaoqiu Liu , Yilin Wang , Lihua Zheng , Dongliang Li , Xiaoyuan Wang , Hongyu Yang , Kun Wang , Jie Ma , Wei Liu , Shuiling Wang , Ke Qiao , Yun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based, family-participatory early rehabilitation (IFPER) model on improving sleep quality, preventing illness-related stigma, and alleviating procedural pain in critically ill patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this single-center randomized controlled trial, 204 adult ICU patients were assigned to the IFPER group (n = 102) or the standard care group (n = 102). The IFPER group received a structured program where trained family members conducted rehabilitation activities guided by a mobile application, in addition to standard care. The primary outcome was the change in sleep efficiency from baseline to ICU discharge, measured by polysomnography (PSG). Secondary outcomes included other PSG parameters, Social Stigma in Critical Illness (SSCI) scores, and daily procedural pain scores (assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale or Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 196 patients completed the study. The IFPER group demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in sleep efficiency compared to the standard care group (mean difference, 15.8 %; 95 % CI, 12.5 %–19.1 %; P < 0.001). The IFPER group also showed a higher percentage of REM sleep, fewer arousals (P < 0.01), significantly lower SSCI scores (25.4 ± 5.1 vs. 38.2 ± 6.3, P < 0.001), and consistently lower procedural pain scores (P < 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>An internet-based, family-participatory early rehabilitation model significantly improves sleep architecture, reduces perceived social stigma, and alleviates procedural pain in critically ill patients, representing a promising non-pharmacological strategy to enhance recovery in the ICU.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108773"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146120066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108788
Juen-Long S. Cheung, Marie A. Cornelis, Paul M. Schneider, Paolo M. Cattaneo
{"title":"Three-dimensional pharyngeal airway changes associated with orthodontic mandibular advancement therapy in growing patients with mandibular retrusion: A retrospective case-control study","authors":"Juen-Long S. Cheung, Marie A. Cornelis, Paul M. Schneider, Paolo M. Cattaneo","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108788","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108788","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The objectives of this study were to assess and compare volumetric and morphological changes in the pharyngeal airway (PA) in growing patients with a retrognathic mandible (skeletal Class II patients), assessed via Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), after growth modification treatment performed with removable (Twin Block) and fixed (Herbst) functional appliances or Class II elastics.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Pre- and post-treatment CBCT scans were collected from an existing practice dataset of 66 patients following completion of multibracket appliance treatment. Three matched groups of 22 patients were treated with either Class II elastics (CII-E), Herbst or Twin Block (TB) appliances. Total and partial PA volumes were calculated, and morphology was assessed via measurements of cross-sectional area (CSA) and hydraulic diameter (DH). Multiple dental and skeletal parameters were also measured three-dimensionally. Predicted mean changes and pairwise comparisons were computed via linear mixed-effects models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The PA volume increased, and the morphology demonstrated reduced constriction (increased minimum CSA and DH) following treatment in all three groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences between any of the groups for all airway parameters measured. Dental and skeletal changes followed a similar pattern to that observed for the airway with most parameters showing significant changes following treatment in all groups, but few significant differences were seen between the groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Similar changes were observed in the PA after treatment with CII-E or functional appliances (Herbst and TB), but it is unclear whether these were due to comparable treatment effects, normal growth, or a combination of both.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108788"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146019695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diagnostic cutoffs of REM sleep without atonia for identifying isolated REM sleep behavior disorder in a Korean population","authors":"Tae-Gon Noh , Jung-Ick Byun , Jung Kyung Hong , In-Young Yoon , Ki-Young Jung","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Study objectives</h3><div>To derive diagnostic cutoffs for REM sleep without atonia (RWA) in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) in a Korean cohort using a multichannel, multi-method approach, and to externally evaluate the stability of specificity in an independent cohort.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>EMG activity was automatically detected in submentalis (SM) and bilateral flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscles using a validated algorithm. RWA was quantified by four methods: SINBAR (3s mini-epochs), AASM (30s epochs), RAI, and CRWA%. The variables were labeled using a ‘channel–event–method’ format. Cutoffs were derived in 68 patients with iRBD and 46 age- and sex-matched controls. The specificity of SM-based cutoffs was externally evaluated in 68 matched controls from a population-based cohort.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>With specificity constrained to 1.00 for diagnostic purposes, the cutoffs were 36.2 % (95 % CIs, 29.2–42.7 %; AUC = 0.98) for combined SM-any and FDS-phasic-3s; 21.2 % (7.6–31.9 %; 0.98) for combined SM-any and FDS-phasic-30s; 6.5 % (2.8–6.9 %; 0.82) for SM-tonic-30s; 0.78 (0.74–0.92; 0.93) for RAI; and 7.1 % (5.5–7.5 %; 0.94) for SM-CRWA%. In external evaluation, specificities for the diagnostic cutoffs were ≥0.90. For the optimal cutoffs, the specificities lay within the derivation cohort's 95 % confidence intervals, except for SM-any-3s. In external controls, the 95th percentile RWA values were 24.6 % for any-3s, 21.9 % for any-30s, 9.7 % for CRWA%, and 0.91 for RAI.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Diagnostic and physiologic RWA cutoffs in Koreans broadly align with Western findings. The discrepancy with earlier Asian cohort data suggests that multinational, multi-ethnic studies are warranted to assess generalizability across Asian populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108811"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sleep medicinePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108784
Lena Xiao , Mystica Terrance , Chun Ting Au , Colin Massicotte , Indra Narang
{"title":"High night-to-night variability in childhood obstructive sleep apnea severity","authors":"Lena Xiao , Mystica Terrance , Chun Ting Au , Colin Massicotte , Indra Narang","doi":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sleep.2026.108784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Study</h3><div>Overnight in-laboratory polysomnography is the gold standard test for childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Night-to-night variability is a well-documented phenomenon in adult literature but is poorly characterized in children. We evaluated the test-retest reliability of polysomnography in children with moderate-severe OSA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This is a secondary analysis of two pediatric trials evaluating OSA therapies for children aged 4–18 years old with moderate-severe OSA. The baseline diagnostic polysomnography data were compared to repeat polysomnography data in trial.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-seven children were included (median age 8 years, 41% females, body mass index z-score 1.4). The median inter-test interval was 48 days (range: 14–78 days). There were 7/27 children (26%) with moderate-severe OSA whose second polysomnography showed mild or no OSA. The median (interquartile range) obstructive apnea-hypopnea index on the first night was 9.4 (7.4–14.0) events/hour and 14.2 (5.4–21.6) events/hour on the second night, with poor correlation (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC 0.27; 95% CI -0.04, 0.51; p = 0.080). There was poor correlation for the oxygen desaturation index (8.9 versus 10.9 events/hour; ICC 0.10; 95% CI -0.26, 0.53; p = 0.31), and poor correlation for hypoxic burden (31.9 versus 48.7 %min/hour; ICC 0.45; 95% CI 0.10, 0.70; p = 0.0072).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Polysomnograms demonstrate poor test-retest reliability in children with moderate-severe OSA. There should be caution relying solely on a single night polysomnogram in children with moderate-severe OSA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21874,"journal":{"name":"Sleep medicine","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 108784"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145980846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}