The evaluation of macrostructure and microstructure of sleep in patients with NREM parasomnias

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine macrostructural and microstructural changes of sleep in NREM parasomnia patients. Microstructural evaluation was based on cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) parameters. Method: In this study, 37 NREM parasomnia patients and 20 healthy control subjects were included. All subjects were evaluated with full-night video EEG-polysomnography. After evaluation of EEG and polysomnography records, subjects diagnosed as epilepsy, narcolepsy, bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or periodic leg movements were excluded from the study. Finally, findings of 25 patients and 18 control subjects were compared in terms of macrostructural and microstructural sleep parameters. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to polysomnographically recorded attacks, and findings about sleep structure were compared between these groups. Results: When polysomnographic parameters compared between two groups, NREM I rate was lower, and NREM III latency was shorter in the patient group than controls. These findings were statistically significant. There was no difference at CAP rates between two groups. Mean duration of phase A1 was longer in parasomnia patients than controls. Polysomnographic and CAP parameters were compered between NREM parasomnia patients with and without recorded attack. Two groups of patient and control group were compared with each other. There was no difference in polysomnographic parameters between two groups of patients. But, number of CAP sequences was statistically higher in patients with recorded attack than not recorded. When these three groups were compared; NREM I rate was lowest in attack recorded parasomnia patienst, highest in control subjects. Phase A1 duration was statistically longer in both of patient groups than control subjects. Conclusion: When the macrostructural parameters were compared, NREM III latency was shorter and NREM I rate was lower in NREM parasomnia patients than control subjects. Microstructurally, mean phase A1 duration was longer in NREM parasomnia patients than control subjects. Number of CAP sequences was higher in NREM parasomnias patients with recorded attack than not recorded.