Obstructive sleep apnea: in search of precision

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a widespread condition affecting 10% of middle-aged adults.
• OSA is linked to reduced quality of life, cognitive deficits, mood disorders, and increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks.
• The condition significantly elevates healthcare expenditures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on OSA pathophysiology, consequences, and phenotypic variations.
• To evaluate current therapeutic applications and their effectiveness in OSA management.
• To explore personalized medicine approaches for OSA diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of existing evidence on obstructive sleep apnea.
• Analysis of pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and phenotypic heterogeneity.
• Evaluation of diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up strategies within personalized medicine frameworks.

Main Results:

• Personalized medicine in OSA involves patient phenotyping for targeted therapeutic strategies.
• Further characterization of OSA's impact on mortality, aging-related diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, neurocognitive), and treatment effects is crucial.
• Emerging technologies like telemedicine show potential for implementing personalized OSA care.

Conclusions:

• Personalized medicine approaches are essential for optimizing obstructive sleep apnea management.
• Phenotyping patients and leveraging new technologies can improve prognostic accuracy and guide treatment decisions.
• Tailored strategies are needed to mitigate the long-term health consequences of OSA.