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507159 
Journal Article 
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome 
Olson, EJ; Park, JG; Morgenthaler, TI 
2005 
1 
Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice
ISSN: 0095-4543
EISSN: 1558-299X 
32 
2 
329-+ 
English 
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common yet underdiagnosed condition of repetitive episodes of complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) airflow reduction during sleep as a result of adverse upper airway neuromuscular and anatomic factors. Cyclic hypoxemia and arousal may lead to several chronic physiologic perturbations that potentially link OSAHS with the initiation or exacerbation of many cardiac and vascular conditions commonly encountered by primary care providers. The cardinal features of OSAHS, such as snoring, daytime dysfunction, and being overweight, are common and nonspecific, so diagnosis rests on objective assessment of nocturnal breathing by polysomnography. First-line therapy is usually continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), with lifestyle modifications, oral appliances, and upper surgery reserved for milder cases or CPAP failures. This article reviews terminology, clinical consequences, pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment pertinent to the perspective of the primary care provider. 
positive airway pressure; quality-of-life; volumetric tissue reduction; prospective parallel trial; adjustable oral appliance; to-night; variability; blood-pressure; apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome; practice; parameters; apnea/hypopnea syndrome