REVIEW   

Minerva Medica 2023 February;114(1):74-89

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.22.08190-3

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome: state of the art

Pasquale TONDO ^{1, 2, 3} ✉, Francesco FANFULLA ³, Roberto SABATO ², Giulia SCIOSCIA ^{1, 2}, Maria Pia FOSCHINO BARBARO ^{1, 2}, Donato LACEDONIA ^{1, 2}

¹ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; ² Respiratory and Intermediate Care Unit, Department of Specialistic Medicine, “Policlinico Riuniti” University Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; ³ Respiratory Function and Sleep Medicine Unit, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici “Maugeri”, Pavia, Italy

Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is an extremely common sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) characterised by complete or partial collapse of the upper airways. These nocturnal phenomena cause high-frequency hypoxemic desaturations (or intermittent hypoxia, IH) during sleep and alterations in gas exchange. The result of IH is the development or worsening of cerebro-cardio-vascular, metabolic and other diseases, which cause a high risk of death. Hence, OSAHS is a multifactorial disease affecting several organs and systems and presenting with various clinical manifestations involving different medical branches. Although it has been estimated that about one billion individuals worldwide are affected by OSAHS, this SRBD remains underestimated also due to misinformation regarding both patients and physicians. Therefore, this review aims to provide information on the main symptoms and risk factors for the detection of individuals at risk of OSAHS, as well as to present the diagnostic investigations to be performed and the different therapeutic approaches. The scientific evidence reported suggest that OSAHS is an extremely common and complex disorder that has a large impact on the health and quality of life of individuals, as well as on healthcare expenditure. Moreover, given its multifactorial nature, the design and implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic programmes through a multidisciplinary approach are necessary for a tailor-made therapy for each patient.

KEY WORDS: Diagnosis; Sleep apnea, obstructive; Risk factors; Therapy