World Sleep 2022 | The impact of medical conditions and treatments on circadian rhythms

Amita Sehgal, PhD, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, discusses the session regarding potential effects of different disease conditions or treatments on circadian rhythms. Prof. Sehgal mentions the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in treating sleep apnea, discussing what this does to the circadian rhythm and how transient ischemic attacks can also affect the rhythms. Another intervention was how ICU stays can impact circadian rhythms – and how sleep varies with the seasons. The association between molecular variance and circadian rhythms is also in discussion. The main point from the session was that many medical conditions and treatments can have an impact on the circadian rhythms – especially in the periphery. This interview took place at the World Sleep Congress 2022 in Rome, Italy.