Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33219909›Full record

ArticleSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2021

Disorders of sleep in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy's disease).

Lisa Langenbruch, Salvador Perez-Mengual, Christian Glatz, Peter Young, Matthias Boentert

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 41% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2026
    Guideline
  2. Best practice recommendations for the clinical care of spinal bulbar muscular atrophy.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2025
    Guideline
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Journal of neuromuscular diseases · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Lisa LangenbruchDepartment of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster (UKM), Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, A1, 48149, Münster, Germany.
Salvador Perez-MengualDepartment of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster (UKM), Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, A1, 48149, Münster, Germany.
Christian GlatzDepartment of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster (UKM), Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, A1, 48149, Münster, Germany.
Peter YoungDepartment of Neurology, Medical Park Bad Feilnbach, Bad Feilnbach, Germany.
Matthias BoentertDepartment of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster (UKM), Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, A1, 48149, Münster, Germany. matthias.boentert@ukmuenster.de.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1397
University Hospital Münster · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSpinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a progressive, X-linked lower motor neuron disorder exclusively affecting men. Since knowledge on sleep disorders in SBMA is scarce compared to other motoneuron diseases, this retrospective case-control study aimed to investigate sleep and sleep-related breathing in patients with SBMA.

methodsIn 23 non-ventilated patients with SBMA (median age 52 years), clinical disease characteristics, forced vital capacity and diagnostic polysomnographies were retrospectively evaluated. In 16 patients, overnight transcutaneous capnometry was available. Twenty-three male control subjects with chronic insomnia were matched for age and body mass index.

resultsIn patients with SBMA obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA, apnoea-hypopnoea index/AHI > 5/h) was more frequent than in control subjects (14/23 or 61% vs. 6/23 or 26%, p = 0.02), and median AHI was significantly higher in patients (9.0/h vs. 3.4/h, p < 0.01). Among SBMA patients, the AHI was not related to age or body mass index. Alveolar hypoventilation as reflected by nocturnal hypercapnia was found in 3/16 patients. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep without atonia was present in 44% of SBMA patients but only in 4% of controls (p < 0.01). During REM and non-REM sleep, no behavioural abnormalities were observed in either group. Periodic limb movements in sleep (index > 15/h) were frequent in SBMA patients but rarely disrupted sleep.

conclusionsIn patients with SBMA, sleep-disordered breathing may comprise both OSA and nocturnal hypoventilation. REM sleep without atonia may also be found, but its clinical significance remains unclear. In patients complaining of sleep-related symptoms, cardiorespiratory polysomnography and transcutaneous capnometry are recommended.

Indexed as

Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-LinkedCase-Control StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSleep Apnea, ObstructiveAlveolar hypoventilationKennedy’s diseaseREM sleepREM sleep behavioural disorderSleep-disordered breathingSpinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

Identifiers

PMID33219909
OpenAlexW3099833462

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.