Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is a frequent, chronic and progressive disorder. It is associated with increased cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and metabolic morbidity, risk of accidents, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. It affects 5% of the adult population, mainly men, and 2% of children between 4 and 5 years of age. Diagnosis is based on suspicion and joint evaluation of the clinical picture with appropriate confirmatory nocturnal studies such as polysomnography. The treatment has two fundamental objectives: to eliminate the respiratory obstruction and, therefore, the breathing stops (apneas) or the hypoventilations (hypopneas) and the drops in oxygen in the blood (desaturations) in any body position or phase of sleep and ensure that the subject sleeps well, improving their sleep quality and reducing or eliminating awakenings and micro-awakenings, which are the main causes of the symptoms.