obstructive sleep apnoea

Question 1

what is obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 1

recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction leading to apnoea (cessation of breathing) during sleep

Question 2

what is obstructive sleep apnoea a combination of?

Answer 2

• muscle relaxation
• narrow pharynx
• obesity

Question 3

describe the pathopysiology of osa:

Answer 3

-> repeated closure of upper airway
- causing snoring and oxygen desaturation during sleep

-> episodes of apnoea and/ or hypnoea (partial blocking of breathing)

-> frequent microarousals during sleep that affect the quality

Question 4

what are the presentations of oba?

Answer 4

• daytime hypersomnolence
• episodes of stopped breathing
• heavy snoring
• morning headaches
• poor concentration

Question 5

what are the risk factors of oba?

Answer 5

• alcohol
• acromegaly
  -> overproduction of growth hormone by pituitary gland
  -> abnormal growth of hands, face and feet
• male
• obestiy
• smoking

Question 6

what investigations are used to diagnose oba?

Answer 6

• clinical history and examination
• epworth questionnare
  -> abnormal score is >11

Question 7

what is polysomnography?
what are the results of a oba diagnosis?

Answer 7

overnight sleep study

five episodes of apnoea and/ or hypnoea per hour of sleep

Question 8

how to measure oba severity? what are the scores?

Answer 8

desaturation rate
apnoea-hypnoea index (AHI)

normal: 0-5
mild: 5-15
moderate: 15-30
severe: 30

Question 9

what is the conservative treatment?

Answer 9

identify exacerbating factors
- alcohol avoidance

• weight reduction

Question 10

what is the medical treatment?

Answer 10

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or…

mandibular repositioning splint

endocrine disorder treatment for hypothyroidism, acromegaly etc.