Clinical Approach to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Abstract

Repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep leads to sleep-disordered breathing disorders which present as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). In Indian studies, the prevalence of OSA varied from 4.4% to 13.7% and that of OSAHS varied from 2.4 to 2.8%. Obstructive sleep apnea is being increasingly recognized as a major public health problem worldwide, including India. Awareness among the general public and even among doctors is very low in India. This disorder is becoming increasingly common among obese individuals, patients with metabolic syndrome, children, and postmenopausal women.