Sleep apnoea: From numbers to the people

Marín, J. M. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is defined as the presence of more than five events of complete obstruction (apnoea) or partial obstruction (hypopnoea) of the pharynx [apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) >5] per hour of sleep. Amongst adults, more than 24% of men and 9% of women suffer from OSA each night 1. When a patient with OSA presents daytime sleepiness that affects work or social activity, OSA syndrome is diagnosed. Almost all patients with OSA snore and experience unrefreshed sleep but tend not to consult their general practitioner (GP) regarding this symptomatology. In most cases, patients visit their doctor at the request of their partner who has observed cessation of breathing during sleep or inappropriate DS. Overall, OSA is underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated. Despite this, it is currently a very common cause of GP consultation. The high prevalence of OSA in the industrialized world is related to the increasing prevalence of its main risk factor: obesity. Excessive fat deposit in the pharynx reduces the diameter of the upper airway and favours its collapse during sleep, when the tone of the intrinsic muscles of the pharynx is reduced compared to wake time.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1111/joim.12300

Año: 2014

Publicado en: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 276, 6 (2014), 648-650
ISSN: 0954-6820

Factor impacto JCR: 6.063 (2014)

Categ. JCR: MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL rank: 12 / 154 = 0.078 (2014) - Q1 - T1

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/PI12-01275

Tipo y forma: (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)