Sleep deprivation decreases ventilatory response to CO₂ but not load compensation

Becase sleep is known to reduce ventilatory drive, and sleep deprivation is a common accompaniment to ventilatory failure, we tested ventilatory response to carbon dioxide (ΔV₁/ΔPCO₂) and response to an inspiratory flow resistive load (change in ΔP₁₀₀/ΔPCO₂ with load) after both a normal night of sleep and after 24 hours of sleep deprivation in 13 healthy volunteers. Sleep deprivation was associated with a significant decrease in ΔV₁/ΔPCO₂ from 2.51 ± .36 to 2.09 ± .34 L/min/mm Hg (p < 0.02). However, load compensation was preserved during sleep deprivation. Since many acutely-ill patients are sleep deprived, an associated reduction of ventilatory drive may play a role in progressive respiratory insufficiency.