Sleep-disordered Breathing After Solid Organ Transplantation

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) describes a group of disorders in which partial or complete cessation of breathing occurs many times throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness or fatigue that interferes with a person's ability to function and reduces quality of life. Transplantation has become an important treatment modality for end-stage organ failure. Transplant recipients are now living longer and, hence, develop chronic adverse medical conditions. Furthermore, transplantation is associated with weight gain. Despite the high prevalence of poor sleep and cardiovascular conditions among transplant patients, SDB is not well studied in these patients.

The primary research objective is to evaluate the prevalence, incidence and type (central or obstructive) of SDB in patients after lung transplantation. Secondary research objectives are the evaluation of correlations between severity of SDB and clinical findings (weight, medical therapy, heart function, lung function, renal function, graft failure, …). Furthermore, the investigators will evaluate the relationship between SDB and cardiovascular morbidity.