[Sleep breathing impairment index: a novel metric for assessing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly heterogeneous disorder of sleep-related breathing, and intermittent hypoxia during sleep constitutes a key pathophysiological mechanism underlying the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in affected individuals. The sleep breathing impairment index (SBII) is a novel, multidimensional index for assessing OSA severity. By integrating the frequency and duration of respiratory events along with the corresponding oxygen desaturation area, SBII quantitatively captures both the occurrence of respiratory disturbances and the associated hypoxemic burden, thereby addressing the limitations of the conventional metric, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Current studies have demonstrated that SBII offers significant advantages in predicting the incidence of CVD. This paper reviews the computational principles, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and clinical applications of SBII in predicting CVD risk, as well as discussing future directions. In doing so, it provides a new perspective for precise assessment and risk stratification in OSA, ultimately contributing to the advancement of individualized treatment strategies.