scholarly journals Defining obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: a failure of semantic rules

Breathe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 210082
Author(s):  
Renata L. Riha

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is one of the most ubiquitous medical conditions in industrialised society. Since the recognition that symptoms of excessive daytime somnolence, problems with concentration, mood and cognitive impairment, as well as cardiometabolic abnormalities can arise as a consequence of obstructed breathing during sleep, it has been subject to variation in its definition. Over the past five decades, attempts have been made to standardise the definitions and scoring criteria used for apnoeas and hypopnoea, which are the hallmarks of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, applying these definitions in clinical and research practice has resulted in over- and under-estimation of the severity and prevalence of OSAS. Furthermore, the definitions may eventually become redundant in the context of rapid technological advances in breathing measurement and other signal acquisition. Increased efforts towards precision medicine have led to a focus on the pathophysiology of obstructed breathing during sleep. However, the same degree of effort has not been focused on how and why the latter does or does not result in diurnal symptoms, integral to the definition of OSAS. This review focuses on OSAS in adults and discusses some of the difficulties with current definitions and the possible reasons behind them.

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Tarantino ◽  
Vincenzo Citro ◽  
Carmine Finelli

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are common conditions, frequently encountered in patients with obesity and/or metabolic syndrome. NAFLD and OSAS are complex diseases that involve an interaction of several intertwined factors. Several lines of evidence lend credence to an immune system derangement in these patients, i.e. the low grade chronic inflammation status, reckoned to be the most important factor in causing and maintaining these two illnesses. Furthermore, it is emphasized the main role of spleen involvement, as a novel mechanism. In this review the contribution of the visceral adiposity in both NAFLD and OSAS is stressed as well as the role of intermittent hypoxia. Finally, a post on the prevention of systemic inflammation is made.Abbreviations: ALT: alanine aminotransferase; BMI: body mass index; CCR2: chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2; CRP: C-reactive protein; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; FFA: free fatty acid; IGF-I: insulin-like growth factor; IR: insulin resistance; IL-6: interleukin-6; IH: intermittent hypoxia; IKK-β: IκB kinase β; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; MCP-1: monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; NAFLD: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NEFA: non-esterified fatty acid; NF-κB: nuclear factor-κB; OSAS: obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome; PAI-1: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; T2D: type 2 diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Panzarella ◽  
Giovanna Giuliana ◽  
Paola Spinuzza ◽  
Gaetano La Mantia ◽  
Laura Maniscalco ◽  
...  

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is the most severe condition on the spectrum of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs). The Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) is one of the most used and validated screening tools, but it lacks the comprehensive assessment of some determinants of OSAS, specifically anamnestic assessment and sleep quality. This study aims to assess the accuracy of some specific items added to the original PSQ, particularly related to the patient’s anamnestic history and to the quality of sleep, for the screening of OSAS in a paediatric population living in Sicily (Italy). Fifteen specific items, divided into “anamnestic” and “related to sleep quality” were added to the original PSQ. The whole questionnaire was administered via a digital form to the parents of children at 4 schools (age range: 3–13 years). For each item, sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. The highest sensitivity (80.0, 95% CI: 28.4; 99.5), in combination with the highest specificity (61.1, 95% CI: 35.7; 82.7), was found for the Item 32 (“assumption of bizarre or abnormal positions during sleep”). This item was found statistically significant for predicting the occurrence of OSAS in children (p-value ≤0.003). The study demonstrates the accuracy of specific items related to sleep quality disturbance for the preliminary assessment of the disease. Although these results should be validated on a larger sample of subjects, they suggest that including the factors discriminating sleep quality could further increase the efficiency and accuracy of PSQ.


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