[The obesity-hypoventilation syndrome]

Obesity, well-known as a cardiovascular risk factor is also a "respiratory" risk factor and can have profound adverse effects on the respiratory system, such as alterations in pulmonary function tests, respiratory mechanics, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, gas exchange, control of breathing and exercise capacity. ABG are frequently altered in obese subjects and abnormalities are directly proportional to BMI. Two main pathophysiological mechanisms may account for gas exchange abnormalities: V/Q inequality, responsible for isolated hypoxemia, and alveolar hypoventilation responsible for the also called "obesity hypoventilation syndrome" (OHS). Hypoventilation in obese patients includes a diversity of mechanisms frequently imbricated, among which the two most frequent are mechanical limitation and blunted ventilatory drive. Two other clinical entities (COPD and OSA) frequently present in the obese patients may potentiate or aggravate this hypoventilation. OHS is frequently underappreciated and diagnosis is rarely made at the steady state. Such diagnosis is frequently made in two situations: either during an exacerbation or when in front of symptoms of respiratory sleep disturbances. The patient is referred to sleep laboratory for screening for OSA. Ventilatory management of these patients will depend on the patient's underlying condition and on sleep study results. It includes CPAP or NIPPV but frequently additional O(2) addition is necessary. OHS represents today one of the most frequent indications of NIV worldwide.