| Abstract [eng] |
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in adulthood characterized by episodes of apnea or hypopnea occurring during narrowing of the upper respiratory tract during sleep and resulting in hypoxia and wakefulness. Persistent lack of sleep and a decrease in blood oxygen levels can lead to certain long-term complications, such as increased daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, hypertension, depression. Risk factors include obesity, old age, male gender, skull abnormalities, and certain lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol, and certain medications. The prevalence of the disease in developed countries is steadily increasing along with epidemic obesity. Polysomnography is considered the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea and assessing the course of the disease. The severity of obstructive sleep apnea is classified according to the apnea-hypopnea index - the number of episodes of apnea-hypopnea per hour: 5-15, mild; 15-30, moderate; 30 or more, severe. Improvements in affordable obstructive sleep apnea screening methods can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment and subsequently reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with sleep-disordered breathing. Treatment options include conservative (behavioral, hardware, pharmacotherapy) or surgical treatments. Lifestyle changes include smoking cessation, weight loss in obese patients, alcohol avoidance, and avoidance of neuromuscular blocking agents and antispasmodics. Positive pressure therapy (CPAP) and, less commonly, surgical interventions such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and radiofrequency ablation are considered first-line treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. |
