Non-invasive respiratory monitoring during wakefulness and sleep in pre- and postmenopausal women

Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2006 Jan 25;150(1):66-74. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2005.03.012. Epub 2005 May 31.

Abstract

Menopause and aging cause hormonal changes with respiratory consequences. The aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological changes in respiration during wakefulness and sleep across menopause in non-patient population using non-invasive measurements of blood and tissue gases. The arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2), heart rate, end-tidal partial carbon dioxide tension (EtCO2) and transcutaneous partial carbon dioxide tension (TcCO2) were measured during wakefulness and sleep in thirteen pairs of BMI-matched pre- and postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women had lower SaO2 during sleep than during wakefulness, whereas premenopausal women maintained their wakefulness SaO2 levels also during sleep. EtCO2 levels did not change either between wakefulness and sleep or between premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. TcCO2 levels increased from wakefulness to sleep in both groups and the increase was greater in the postmenopausal group. The impact of sleep on the non-invasive measurements of blood and tissue gases is stronger in postmenopausal women.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous / methods
  • Body Mass Index
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic*
  • Plethysmography / methods
  • Polysomnography / methods
  • Postmenopause / physiology*
  • Premenopause / physiology*
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange / physiology
  • Respiration*
  • Sleep Stages / physiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tidal Volume / physiology
  • Wakefulness / physiology*

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide