Characterization of chimeric surface submentalis EMG activity during hypopneas in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Abstract

Polysomnogram (PSG) is the standard diagnostic test for the evaluation of sleep disorders. The current rules require surface (s) electromyography (EMG) of the submentalis muscle (SM) in order to document atonia during REM sleep. The sSM EMG signals reflect contracting motor units; the firing of the latter is a function of intrinsic neuromuscular characteristics of its component muscle fibers, and indeed forms the basis for the spectral properties. Here we have studied OSA patients with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of <5, 5-10, 30-35, and 60+, and document, for the first time, a "Chimeric" sSM EMG activity phenotype during hypopneas in Non-REM sleep. This unique pattern characteristically displ..