Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a "disorder characterized by recurrent apneas during sleep despite persistent respiratory efforts. It is due to upper airway obstruction. The respiratory pauses may induce hypercapnia or hypoxia. Cardiac arrhythmias and elevation of systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures may occur. Frequent partial arousals occur throughout sleep, resulting in relative sleep deprivation and daytime tiredness. Associated conditions include obesity; acromegaly; myxedema; micrognathia; myotonic dystrophy; adenotonsilar dystrophy; and neuromuscular diseases. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p395)."[1][2]
Diagnosis
Age, body mass index, male sex, and snoring are the best predictors of sleep apnea.[3] However, obstructive sleep apnea is difficult to diagnose based on the history and physical examinations.
A score of more than 5 on the Berlin Questinnaire has a sensitivity of 86%.[4] Clinical prediction rules are available to help diagnose sleep apnea.[5]
Polysomnography is the best test and abnormal is a apnea–hypopnea index of 5 or greater. This test is not always required to diagnose sleep apnea.[6]
Treatment
Weight loss
Although weight loss presumably helps, there are no trials to allow estimation of the effect.
Oral appliances
Regarding oral appliances, "CPAP appears to be more effective in improving sleep disordered breathing than OA. The difference in symptomatic response between these two treatments is not significant, although it is not possible to exclude an effect in favour of either therapy. Until there is more definitive evidence on the effectiveness of OA in relation to CPAP, with regard to symptoms and long-term complications, it would appear to be appropriate to recommend OA therapy to patients with mild symptomatic OSAH, and those patients who are unwilling or unable to tolerate CPAP therapy" according to the Cochrane Collaboration.[7]
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Regarding continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a randomized controlled trial concluded "CPAP attenuated central sleep apnea, improved nocturnal oxygenation, increased the ejection fraction, lowered norepinephrine levels, and increased the distance walked in six minutes, it did not affect survival."[8]. Regarding research prior to this trial, the Cochrane Collaboration concluded "CPAP is effective in reducing symptoms of sleepiness and improving quality of life measures in people with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). It is more effective than oral appliances in reducing respiratory disturbances in these people but subjective outcomes are more equivocal. Certain people tend to prefer oral appliances to CPAP where both are effective"[9]
"The optimum form of CPAP delivery interface remains unclear... nasal pillows or the Oracle oral mask may be useful alternatives when a patient is unable to tolerate conventional nasal masks" according to the Cochrane Collaboration.[9]
Medications
Regarding medications, "there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of drug therapy in the treatment of OSA" according to the Cochrane Collaboration.[10]
Surgery
Regarding surgery, studies "do not provide evidence to support the use of surgery in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome, as overall significant benefit has not been demonstrated" according to the Cochrane Collaboration.[11]
References
- ↑ Anonymous (2024), Obstructive sleep apnea (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ Caples SM, Gami AS, Somers VK. Obstructive sleep apnea. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Feb 1;142(3):187-97. PMID 15684207
- ↑ Viner S, Szalai JP, Hoffstein V. Are history and physical examination a good screening test for sleep apnea? Ann Intern Med. 1991 Sep 1;115(5):356-9. PMID 1863025
- ↑ Netzer NC, Stoohs RA, Netzer CM, Clark K, Strohl KP. Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1999 Oct 5;131(7):485-91. PMID 10507956
- ↑ Rodsutti J, Hensley M, Thakkinstian A, D'Este C, Attia J. A clinical decision rule to prioritize polysomnography in patients with suspected sleep apnea. Sleep. 2004 Jun 15;27(4):694-9. PMID 15283004
- ↑ Mulgrew AT, Fox N, Ayas NT, Ryan CF. Diagnosis and initial management of obstructive sleep apnea without polysomnography: a randomized validation study. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Feb 6;146(3):157-66. PMID 17283346
- ↑ Lim J, Lasserson TJ, Fleetham J, Wright J (2006). "Oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD004435. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD004435.pub3. PMID 16437488. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Bradley TD, Logan AG, Kimoff RJ, et al (November 2005). "Continuous positive airway pressure for central sleep apnea and heart failure". N. Engl. J. Med. 353 (19): 2025–33. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa051001. PMID 16282177. Research Blogging.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Chai CL, Pathinathan A, Smith B (2006). "Continuous positive airway pressure delivery interfaces for obstructive sleep apnoea". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD005308. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005308.pub2. PMID 17054251. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Smith I, Lasserson TJ, Wright J (2006). "Drug therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD003002. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003002.pub2. PMID 16625567. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Sundaram S, Bridgman SA, Lim J, Lasserson TJ (2005). "Surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD001004. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD001004.pub2. PMID 16235277. Research Blogging.