Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Question 1

What is obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 1

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterised by episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep

Question 2

What are the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 2

> Obesity
> Male
> Post menopause
> Large neck circumference
> Maxillomandibular anomalies
> Increased volume of soft tissues
> FHx
> PCOS
> Chronic snoring
> Hypothyroidism
> Down's syndrome
> Mucopolysaccharides
> Older Age
> Black, hispanic or asian
> Tobacco smoking

Question 3

What are the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 3

> Excessive daytime sleepiness
> Episodes of apnoea
> Episodic gasping
> Restless sleep
> Insomnia
> Macroglossia
> Chronic snoring
> Mood disorders
> Nocturia
> Erectile dysfunction
> Morning headaches
> Dry mouth

Question 4

What is the epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 4

OSA is estimated to affect 4% of men and 2% of women in the US, based on the definition of OSA as an Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI) of ≥5 episodes/hour with excessive daytime sleepiness

Question 5

What investigations do you need to do for obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 5

> Polysomnography
Portable multichannel sleep tests
Awake fibreoptic endoscopy