Opiate Sleep Disordered Breathing Study

Lay title: A study of breathing pauses during sleep in patients on long term opiates. Sleep apnoea is a term which refers to frequent breathing pauses during sleep. Breathing can stop at night due to the upper airway collapsing (Obstructive sleep apnoea)or reduced signals from the brain driving breathing (central sleep apnoea). Clinical observation has noticed that patients on opiates have an increase in sleep apnoea. Hypothesis: This study looks at the relationship of opiates (when used for patients chronic pain) and the occurrence of sleep apnoea. It is expected that there will be an increase in sleep apnoea (particularly of the central variant) particularly in patients on long term opiates.