What is the clinical term for breath-holding followed by an expiratory groan?

The clinical term for breath-holding followed by an expiratory groan is catathrenia. This condition is characterized by the occurrence of prolonged expiratory groaning during sleep, which is typically associated with irregular breathing patterns. During episodes of catathrenia, an individual may hold their breath for a noticeable duration, followed by a pronounced groaning sound upon exhalation. This phenomenon usually occurs in the later stages of sleep and can often be mistaken for other sleep-related breathing disorders, but it is distinctive due to the specific sound produced.

Understanding catathrenia is important for sleep specialists, as it differs from conditions like apnea, hypopnea, or snoring. Apnea refers to a complete cessation of breathing, while hypopnea indicates a reduction in airflow. Snoring, on the other hand, is characterized by vibrations of the throat tissue due to airway obstruction. Catathrenia’s unique feature of a groaning sound differentiates it from these other respiratory events, making it important for proper diagnosis and treatment planning in polysomnographic studies.