Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D. (Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases)
Diane Davison, RN, MA
Sleep disorders affect approximately 40 million adults in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is also highly prevalent and is the most common cause of death. There is increasing evidence of strong interactions between sleep and cardiovascular disease. The Cardiovascular/Sleep Core seeks to provide a mechanism to support studies in sleep, studies in cardiovascular diseases and studies that seek to address the interaction between sleep disorders and heart disease.
The objectives of the Core are to assist investigators in understanding not only the pathological characteristics of sleep disorders and heart disease in patients, but also to better understand the physiology of sleep and the physiology of cardiovascular control in healthy subjects.
The sleep components of the Core laboratory are facilitated by two state-of-the-art polysomnographic recording facilities. These sleep study rooms are monitored simultaneously from a central control room that is immediately adjacent to both sleep labs. Integrated into the polysomnographic recordings are facilities for continuous EKG, blood pressure and cardiac output measurements. The other cardiovascular components of the core laboratories include facilities for ambulatory blood pressure measurements as well as echocardiographic measurements, including M mode/color Doppler/2-D imaging. Also offered are ultrasound-based measures of brachial artery endothelial function, and measurements of vessel wall morphology such as carotid artery wall thickness. Non-invasive measures of heart rate and blood pressure variability as well as baroreflex gain, phase and stability are also accessible. By interacting with the other Core laboratories, other cardiovascular related tests such as exercise treadmill testing can also be facilitated.
The laboratory is staffed by a sleep technician with knowledge and expertise in conducting overnight polysomnographic studies. An echo technician is also available to help obtain high quality echocardiographic images.