WCSA - plenary sessions

When it was advertised as a world congress... they weren't kidding. 1015 participants from 44 countries representing every continent... WOW.

Interesting there are a number of people here who I have seen recently... in fact three times in the last month. I guess I am really in the business now.

The plenary sessions, when all of us are gathered together have been particularly impressive. Peretz Lavie offered a historical perspective on obstructive sleep apnea - identifying a number of oversights of history. It was wonderful to hear him recount the stories. I had read about many of them in his book Restless Nights. Here is a link to Amazon from our web site - http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/books.html. This is a great book if you are interested in the history of this "medical mystery." Dr. Lavie will provide me with a copy of the slide set and my hope is to put the timeline of events on the ASAA web site with links to the historical documents... maybe a whole interactive history.

The second plenary presentation... yesterday was by Dr. Charles George on the social and societal outcomes in (from) sleep apnea. A more traditional presentation in the form a review of the literature. It has been well documented, perhaps not well annouced to the whole world, that untreated sleep apnea has a negative effect on the bed partner, increases the number of auto accidents and increases significantly the cost of healthcare. Dr. George was the lead author on the study on sleep apnea in NFL players.

The third plenary session is today. The speaker is Colin Sullivan, the author on the first paper published on the uses of CPAP for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. I have had several opportunities during the conference to talk with Dr. Sullivan, who is a rather modest unassuming man given the impact that his thinking has had on so many people around the world. An interview with him is the lead story in a combined spring/summer newsletter we published this year.

Next time a report on the sessions and the posters.

8th World Congress on Sleep Apnea (prelude)

I don't remember when I first heard there would be an international meeting on sleep apnea in Montreal this year. Doing some research I learned this meeting takes place every three years.

Unlike other medical conferences I have attended since becoming executive director of the ASAA (not that I attended any before), this meeting is devoted exclusively to sleep apnea - diagnosis, treatment, co-morbidity implications of untreated OSA - WOW.

Here is a link to the schedule http://www.wcsa2006.com/week.htm

I chose not to particpate in this event as an exhibitor like our colleagues at the National Sleep Foundation, but rather to be an attendee. First, the cost exhibit was way more than the association could afford on top of the expenses of getting there. Secondly, participating as an attendee would allow me greater freedom to learn, meet, discuss without being tied down to the booth.

Looking at the program, there are a number of fascinating presentations... unfortunately some occuring at the same time. While I can't be in two places at once; I have the benefit of our board chair Dave Hargett being along so we can divide them up.

My plan is report here on what I learn during the conference... share the odd photo if I can manage and if I am really succesful get some interviews with presenters and have those available for people to hear.

I do have an organizational objective in participating. I would like to see formal participation in future conferences by patient groups like the ASAA from around the world. Not quite sure what that would look like, but I have a couple days to figure that out.

Stay tuned for more.

Continuity of Care Conference in Northbrook

Imagine if you could bring together physicians who specialize in treating sleep apnea,the folks that work with the physicians (sleep techs), the manufacturers who make the machine to treat the more severe cases (CPAP devices), the companies that distribute the machines (HME or DME), patients who have sleep apnea and the odd non-profit executive (NSF and moi) to talk about what is the BEST way to be certain the patient receive the CARE they need... well that would be one hellava conference and could with any luck at all really make a difference in the lives of those who need treatment for sleep apnea.

It happened... last weekend and I was there. Did the heavens open up and we experience an epiphany that provided us with the answer to all our questions? No, but it was definitely a start.

The American College of Chest Physicians - Sleep Institute hosted the meeting at their offices on September 8 and 9. Representatives from the groups listed above, yes, including patients came together in an attempt to come a consensus on the most appropriate continuity of care for the OSA patient... from diagnosis and beyond.

The idea for the conference came from Dr. Charles Atwood, Chair of the Sleep Institute within the ACCP. Here is a picture of me and Charlie at the Sleep Apnea Awareness Day lecture earlier this year. The idea for the conference came to him three years ago to put something like together. I hope when all is said and done, patients will remember to thank Charlie for putting forth the effort that started the ball rolling.

The results of the conference will be reported after further analysis of the small group work done during the meeting. It is likely to be sometime next year before we see anything in print.

I can say that their several areas of general agreement - sleep apnea needs to be reclassified from a acute disease (treat it and the problem goes away) to a chronic disease (a condition that requires some ongoing attention) - if those who are responsible for paying for care (ie. insurance companies and Medicare) understood this and looked at how those who are compensated for diagnosis and ongoing care - adjusting the compensation according - that alone would make a big difference - A Big Difference.

Another area of agreement was education... everybody could use more education. In this case, we aren't talking about awareness, which is also important, but physicians (sleep and primary care), home care providers and patients understanding what each is supposed to do to make certain the condition is effectively treated.

I had a great weekend last weekend... I had a chance to think about, talk about and perhaps contribute in a small way to improving the care of those with sleep apnea.

Next stop... Montreal and the 8th World Congress on Sleep Apnea.