Carrier, Julie
Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal (CIUSSS - NIM)
Canada
Mobilizing the healthcare community towards an integrated approach to improving outcomes of patients with sleep disorders - Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network (CSCN)
CIHR
1,299,813
01/10/2015
5.0
Neurodegenerative disease in general
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects over 1 million Canadians. OSA leads to significant cardiovascular and metabolic health problems and patients with untreated OSA are at higher risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. The vision of the Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network (CSCN) is to mobilize the healthcare community to adopt an integrated approach towards improving outcomes and treatment of patients with OSA. Patient centric research: The CSCN has established three scientific objectives: 1) Identify biomarkers to detect OSA patients at high risk for adverse health outcomes. This research will focus on vulnerable patient populations such as severe OSA patients, obese children, and shift workers; 2) Identify the impact of OSA in neurodegenerative disorders; 3) Evaluate alternative models to improve access for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with OSA, and for improved adherence to treatment. Translation of research discoveries: CSCN will deploy a national plan of knowledge exchange between patient groups, researchers, the healthcare community and industry to provide affordable home-based diagnostic technologies, clinical practices guidelines and provide lay information to patients on research outcomes and therapies. Integration of patient’s expertise: The CSCN will consult with OSA patients to focus research on patients’ priorities, reinforce participative research, facilitate knowledge translation, and ensure strong links with community-based groups. Training and career development: CSCN will also create a national multidisciplinary training program integrating innovative approaches (e.g. online portal system, webinars). Outcomes: The anticipated outcomes include: i) identification of OSA patients at greater risk of adverse cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive effects; ii) earlier OSA diagnosis in vulnerable populations; iii) development of personalized OSA treatments;and iv) improvement strategies for patient adherence to OSA treatment.