[Impact and management of comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are both common respiratory system disorders that often coexist. The combination of COPD and OSA, known as overlap syndrome (OS), can lead to severe hypoxemia, hypercapnia, poor sleep quality, and increased risks of arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and other complications. This ultimately results in high rates of hospitalization and mortality. Currently, clinical practice tends to be reductionist, with insufficient awareness of the dangers posed by OS. There is a need for more proactive screening, diagnosis, and close monitoring and correction of nocturnal hypoxia in OS patients. Non-invasive ventilation is the most important treatment for OS. It is crucial to further address the differences in patient conditions during the day and night, as well as between stable and acute exacerbation phases, to refine and standardize non-invasive ventilation therapy. Additionally, actively preventing and managing related complications will help improve the prognosis of OS.