respiratory effort-related arousal
Sleep disruption caused by increased breathing effort that doesn't meet criteria for apnea or hypopnea but still fragments sleep.
Full Definition
Respiratory effort-related arousal (RERA) refers to a sequence of breaths characterized by increasing respiratory effort leading to an arousal from sleep that does not meet the criteria for apnea or hypopnea. These events contribute to sleep fragmentation and daytime symptoms despite not causing significant oxygen desaturation. RERAs are detected through esophageal pressure monitoring or nasal pressure transducers and are included in the respiratory disturbance index (RDI). Recognition of RERAs has led to the diagnosis of upper airway resistance syndrome, a condition that bridges normal sleep and obstructive sleep apnea.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as RERA; plural is RERAs.
In Context
- "The patient had numerous respiratory effort-related arousals despite a normal apnea-hypopnea index." — Sleep study interpretation
- "RERAs contributed to an elevated respiratory disturbance index of 18 events per hour." — Diagnostic report