ABIM Sleep Medicine case studies
ABIM Sleep Medicine · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ABIM Sleep Medicine certification exam is a subspecialty examination for physicians who already hold a primary board certification and want formal recognition of expertise in sleep and sleep-wake disorders. Candidates typically come from pulmonary, neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine, pediatrics, otolaryngology, and family medicine backgrounds, and most have completed a dedicated sleep medicine fellowship or accumulated substantial clinical sleep experience. The ABIM Sleep Medicine case studies are 5 cases and about 2,915 words.
1Persistent Sleepiness on PAP Despite a 'Normal' Report
A 52-year-old man with obesity (BMI 38) and hypertension was diagnosed with severe OSA (AHI 62, nadir SpO2 71%). He was started on auto-PAP at 5-15 cmH2O with a nasal mask.
589 words, about 3 min2A Shift Worker Who Cannot Sleep on Days Off
A 34-year-old emergency medicine resident works rotating 12-hour shifts: 4 day shifts, then 4 night shifts, then 4 days off. She reports difficulty sleeping during her night block (she sleeps 4–5 h, fragmented) and on her first days off she cannot fall asleep until 4–5 AM, then sleeps until 1 PM.
597 words, about 3 min3New-Onset Confusional Arousals in an Older Adult
A 68-year-old woman is brought by her husband because of episodes in which she sits up in bed about 90 minutes after falling asleep, appears confused, mumbles, and once walked into a closet. Episodes last 5–15 minutes, she is difficult to arouse, and she has no memory of them.
545 words, about 3 min4Positive Airway Pressure in a Patient with Heart Failure
A 61-year-old man with HFrEF (LVEF 30%, NYHA class II) and atrial fibrillation (on apixaban and metoprolol) is referred for sleepiness. He has a BMI of 34, neck circumference 17.5 inches, and reports loud snoring and witnessed apneas.
543 words, about 3 min5A Child with Snoring, Enuresis, and Poor School Performance
A 7-year-old boy is brought by his mother for snoring and 'restless sleep.' He snores most nights, has witnessed pauses, and sweats during sleep. He wets the bed 4–5 nights/week (previously dry at age 5).
641 words, about 3 min