Obstructive sleep apnoea

doi:10.1136/bmj.39289.484144.BE

BMJ 2007;335:313-314 (18 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.39289.484144.BE

Editorials

Obstructive sleep apnoea

Trials are under way to determine the still unclear associationsbetween sleep apnoea and cardiovascular outcomes

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea in its severe formis about 2% and 0.5% in middle aged men and women respectively.¹Pharyngeal collapse during sleep causes recurrent frustratedinspiratory efforts, oscillating levels of blood oxygen, anddisturbed sleep, which may, or may not, lead to excessive daytimesleepiness.² The main treatment for moderate to severe obstructivesleep apnoea and excessive daytime sleepiness (obstructive sleepapnoea syndrome) is nasal continuous positive airway pressureapplied during sleep. A meta-analysis³ clearly showed that thistreatment is highly effective in preventing apnoea in such patients,thus relieving symptoms and improving self assessed qualityof life.⁴

The main debate over treatment is whether obstructive sleepapnoea is also an important independent risk factor for vasculardisease (such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke),both in those with and without current vascular problems. Someof the potential mechanisms suggested include acute and longterm . . . [Full text of this article]

John Stradling, professor

Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LJ

john.stradling@orh.nhs.uk

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