Obstructive sleep apnea: a clinical review

Obstructive sleep apnea is a relatively common disorder which is being recognized and diagnosed with increasing frequency. Patients with this disorder are frequently overweight and usually present with longstanding history of heroic snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. The diagnosis is established with an overnight sleep study, although the decision as to who should be sent to a sleep laboratory must be made on an individual basis, particularly for those whose main complaint is snoring. The major factor in the pathogenesis of this disorder is a narrow and floppy pharyngeal airway. Of the several treatment modalities available at the present time, the most successful is application of continuous positive airway pressure during sleep.