Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVE

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep-disordered breathing. This article describes advances in the diagnosis, testing, treatment, and monitoring of OSA.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Home sleep apnea testing and in-laboratory polysomnography are the most commonly used diagnostic tools in the identification and monitoring of OSA, but new methods for diagnosis and at-home monitoring of treatment response are being developed and validated. While the apnea-hypopnea index is regularly used to define OSA severity, recognition is increasing of its inability to risk-stratify patients. Other sleep study data including arousal threshold, hypoxic burden, and pulse rate variability as well as clinical characteristics can help with risk stratification. The most effective treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which can be limited by adherence and tolerance in some patients. Newer masks and comfort features including heated tubing and expiratory pressure relief may improve tolerance to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Additional treatment options include other PAP modalities, mandibular advancement devices, tongue stimulation therapy, negative inspiratory pressure, nasal expiratory pressure valves, nasal congestion treatments, upper airway surgeries including hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and medications.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

OSA is a common disorder that causes sleep and daytime symptoms and increases the risk of neurologic and medical complications. Neurologists should be aware of atypical presentations and understand the diagnostic and treatment options.