Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2018; 11(02): 54-55
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20180012
Editorial

Different approaches to investigate sleep apnea

Monica L. Andersen
1   Departmento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Sleep disorders, in particular sleep apnea, has been recognized as a public health problem. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in subjects from both sex and all ages[1],[2], and it is associated with higher morbidity and mortality[3] , [4]. In Brazilian population, the presence of severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index - AHI≥15) was predictor of hospitalizations and/or demand for emergency services[5]. Recently, Scalzitti et al.[5] analyzed more than 22,000 patients to identify factors that contribute to hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. Authors found that OSA was an independent risk factor for readmission[5].

OSA consequences to subjects’ health and well-being warranted further investigation of the diverse factors that could interfere with OSA treatment and prognostic. Moreover, the clinical, social and economic burden of sleep disorders indicate the importance to explore OSA with a multidisciplinary perspective and using a broad approach. In this number of Sleep Science, four articles looked into OSA using different approaches, aiming to analyze the associated factors with the disorder risk and severity, and the respective treatments outcomes.

We highlight the studies that explored OSA diagnostic and treatment using alternative means. This approach could be helpful in clinical situations with limited/no access to the gold-standartd tools. Kale et al.[6] investigated the association of oral characteristics, as maxillary arch constriction, facial profile and tongue size, with the risk of OSA. Authors applied the STOP-BANG questionnaire in a sample of patients admitted in a specialized hospital for dental treatment. Results demonstrated that the risk of being classified as high risk for OSA was more than 2 times higher in participants that had neck circumference >40cm, Mallampati score class 3 or 4, large tongue, and deep palatal vault. These results are very interesting due to the clinical applicability. The oral parameters analyzed in the study could be used in dental clinical practice as an initial screening of OSA risk, enable to reduce the time for polysomnography exam, diagnosis and treatment. The use of oral and orthodontic evaluations is also applied to OSA treatment.

In a Case Report, Guimaraes et al.[7] described a significant improvement in AHI after mandibular advancement device treatment in a CPAP-intolerant male patient. After two years of treatment, patient showed a reduction of the AHI from 80.5 events/h to 8 events/h, in addition to improvements in oxygen saturation parameters and arousal index. The article demonstrates the importance to use alternative therapies to OSA patients with no CPAP adherence.

OSA is highly prevalent in society and strongly associated to several comorbidities. Increase the access and the response to OSA treatment, and facilitate the disease diagnostic are challenges in Sleep Medicine. Studies in this field are essential to the discussion and development of new clinical and research strategies.



Publication History

Article published online:
13 October 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 

  • REFERENCES

  • 1 Marcus CL, Brooks LJ, Draper KA, Gozal D, Halbower AC, Jones J, et al.; American Academy of Pediatrics. Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):e714-55.
  • 2 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6.
  • 3 Marshall NS, Wong KK, Cullen SR, Knuiman MW, Grunstein RR. Sleep apnea and 20-year follow-up for all-cause mortality, stroke, and cancer incidence and mortality in the Busselton Health Study cohort. J Clin Sleep Med. 2014;10(4):355-62.
  • 4 Dewan NA, Nieto FJ, Somers VK. Intermittent hypoxemia and OSA: implications for comorbidities. Chest. 2015;147(1):266-74.
  • 5 Scalzitti NJ, O’Connor PD, Nielsen SW, Aden JK, Brock MS, Taylor DM, et al. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is an Independent Risk Factor for Hospital Readmission. J Clin Sleep Med. 2018;14(5):753-8.
  • 6 Kale SS, Kakodkar P, Shetiya SH. Assessment of oral findings of dental patients who screen high and no risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) reporting to a dental college - A cross sectional study. Sleep Sci. 2018;11(2)XX.
  • 7 Guimaraes MLR, Hermont A, Guimaraes TM, Dal-Fabbro C, Bittencourt L, Chaves Junior CM. Severe obstructive sleep apnea treatment with mandibular advancement device: A case report. Sleep Sci. 2018;11(2)XX.