Polysomnography of 31 Mustard Gas Exposed Veterans with Complaint of ‎Respiratory Sleep Problem in Baqiyatallah (a.s.) Hospital

Many of mustard gas exposed veterans complain of respiratory problem during sleep. Mustard gas exposure causes tracheomalasia and increased collapsibility of airway. Muscle atonia during sleep along with collapse of upper respiratory tract can cause obstructive apnea in sleep. This study is performed to evaluating respiratory sleep disorder in these veterans. In a non-randomized design, 31 mustard gas exposed veterans with complaint of respiratory problem in sleep selected for polysomnography. Demographic data, Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), weight, neck circumference, CBC, FBS and lipid profile obtained from all patients. Mean age of patients was 46.45 ± 11.7. The mean of BMI was 30.8 ± 6.9 and neck circumference was 41.3 ± 3.1. These figures in OSA group were 33.4 ± 7.8 and 42.5 ± 3.5 respectively. The mean of ESS score in OSA group was 14.1 ± 8.8. The polysomnographic findings was normal in 7 patients (22.6%). In 10 patient (32.2%) show OSA with mean apnea hypopnea index of 22.3 ± 10.2 and mean O2 saturation of 72.6 ± 8.1, in 7 patient (22.6%) primary snoring, in 5 patient central sleep apnea and in 2 patients mixed central and obstructive sleep apnea. Although, in the pathogenesis of OSA various factors including age, sex, smoking, and obesity have important role. But, high frequency of OSA in these patients could indicate the probable role of mustard exposure and tracheomalacia induce by it. However, proofing of this role needs a more extensive study.