Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder, generally under-recognized and hence under diagnosed. It is associated with potentially serious morbidity and increasing mortality which can be prevented by early diagnosis, modification of risk factors and proper treatment. In this review, basic and updated information of obstructive sleep apnea of interest to internists and general physicians will be discussed. This includes important definitions, epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, pathophysiology, complications, mortality, and modalities of treatment.
The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) represents only part of a large group of pathologies of variable entity called respiratory sleep disorders (RSD) which include simple snoring and increased upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). Although the etiopathogenesis of adult OSAS is well known, many aspects of this syndrome in children are still debated. Its prevalence is about 2% in children from 2 to 8 years of age, mostly related to the size of the upper airways adenoid tissue. Several risk factors linked to the development of OSAS are typical of the pediatric age. The object of this paper is to analyze the state of the art on this specific topic, discussing its implications in terms of diagnosis and management.
Risk Factors Associated with Nocturia in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
