The Goals of Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a destructive and insidious entity mostly underdiagnosed and undertreated. It affects not only individuals but the society as a whole. The costs to the populations can be measured not only in morbidity and mortality but also in the financial wellbeing of a society. Financial burden of this disease is staggering. The social fabric of society is also greatly impacted. Physiologic effects of OSA are far reaching. It has been shown that early intervention with treatment of OSA can often prevent and/or reverse many of the negative outcomes associated with this condition.