Dr. Anuj Chandra, a Chattanooga sleep specialist who has been a leader in bringing cutting edge sleep medicine to India, again served as faculty this year at the Sixth Annual Sleep Medicine Course, which was held Dec. 10-11 in Mumbai, India. About 200 internists and family physicians, specialists, residents and sleep technicians from across India attended this year, more than double the attendance at last year's course. In addition, two of the most famous researchers in sleep medicine served as keynote speakers, and sponsorship from American device makers increased significantly.
Now in its sixth year, the course has grown tremendously, drawing more participation from students as well as from international experts and corporations in the field and presenting original research carried out in India. "We feel and know this conference is continuing to cause significant improvement in awareness and bringing the latest knowledge of treatment methods from the U.S. to India," said Dr. Chandra.
Dr. Chandra was a founding faculty member and has volunteered his time as an instructor since the annual National Sleep Medicine Course (NSMC) was created in 2006 under the direction of Dr. Deepak Shrivastava, professor of medicine at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, and Dr. H.N. Mallick, professor of physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
This year the course is hosted in Mumbai at Jaslok Hospital and Research Center, organized by Dr. Preeti Devnani, who established the Sleep Disorders Clinic at Jaslok Hospital. "It was exhilarating to see how everything came together for the course. All the sponsors came through, everyone I asked. The administration was supportive, and the guidance and support of Drs. N.H. and P.N. Wadia were invaluable."
International Experts Speaking
"Keynote speakers David White and Emannuel Mignot are two of the most respected authorities in the field of sleep medicine," said Dr. Chandra. "Their presence – volunteering their time – was a huge sign that the course is achieving international recognition. Dr. Mignot discussed the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy, and Dr. White brought cutting edge research in diagnosis and management of sleep apnea."
Dr. David White is Director of the Sleep Disorders Program at Brigham and Women`s Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Boston and former President of the American Sleep Disorders Association from 1996 from 1997. Dr. Emmanuel Mignot, is Director of the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is internationally recognized as having discovered the cause of narcolepsy and also directs the Center for Narcolepsy.
A Large Market for American Companies
American corporations Philips Respironics and ResMed, makers of equipment used to treat sleep disorders, were major sponsors of this year's course, indicating greater recognition that India is a major new market.
"The market for treatment devices is about $30 billion in the United States at least three times that in India," said Dr. Chandra. "The companies see a huge opportunity to sell their products. And of course, we need their products, which contribute to preventing mortality and improving morbidity in the Indian population. We know there is a very high risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and sleep apnea but still a huge lack of awareness. India has up to 250 million people with sleep disorders."
Original Research from India
Original research was also presented at the conference, including a study of the relationship of autism-spectrum disorders and sleep status in India and a separate study of sleep disorders in Indian adolescents.
"Teens in the U.S. and India are subjected to the same bad influences on sleep: overuse of texting, cell phones and Internet," said Dr. Preeti Devnani. "These problems are not unique to the West. The study shows how much we're living in a global society." Dr. Devnani worked in the United States for many years and is now the chief of sleep at Jaslok Hospital, where the adolescent sleep research was conducted.
In addition, the Times of India reported last week on two separate studies conducted in India by Dr. S. K. Sharma of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences were published this month in the Indian Journal of Medical Research and in New England Journal of Medicine. These studies show that people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are four times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular risk factors such as metabolic issues, such as obesity, hypertension, abnormal lipid levels and insulin resistance. But moderate to severe OSA can be reversed by three months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. (Times of India Dec. 15 article)
