Catathrenia

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Catathrenia
Specialty	Otorhinolaryngology, sleep medicine, Somnology
Symptoms	groaning or moaning during sleep

Catathrenia or nocturnal groaning is a sleep-related breathing disorder, consisting of end-inspiratory apnea (breath holding) and expiratory groaning during sleep. It describes a rare condition characterized by monotonous, irregular groans while sleeping.^[1] Catathrenia begins with a deep inspiration. The person with catathrenia holds his or her breath against a closed glottis, similar to the Valsalva maneuver. Expiration can be slow and accompanied by sound caused by vibration of the vocal cords or a simple rapid exhalation. Despite a slower breathing rate, no oxygen desaturation usually occurs.^[2][3][4] The moaning sound is usually not noticed by the person producing the sound, but it can be extremely disturbing to sleep partners.^[1] It appears more often during expiration REM sleep than in NREM sleep.^[5]

Catathrenia is distinct from both somniloquy (sleep talking) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The sound is produced during exhalation, as opposed to snoring, which occurs during inhalation.