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.