More than sleepiness: prevalence and relevance of nonclassical symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this review is to describe the nonclassical symptoms and manifestations occurring in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), both from a standpoint of prevalence and in terms of clinical relevance. Particular emphasis will be given to nightmares, comorbid insomnia, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder, bruxism, morning headache, nocturia, acid reflux, chronic cough and dysphagia. Recent findingsA review of the recent literature suggests that nonclassical symptoms have a high prevalence, are underestimated, and can interact with quality of life. Although these disturbances may occur together by mere coincidence, they may interact reciprocally. However, the degree of symptoms is not always correlated with OSA severity. SummaryOSA is a heterogeneous disease with variable clinical manifestations. This review highlights the need for detailed evaluation of patients with OSA to diagnose other important sleep disorders and clinical manifestations, given their frequent association.

Implementation of the Baveno Classification in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Correlation with Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

“…These results clearly indicate the need for cooperation between pneumonologists and psychiatrists, as the result of cooperative treatment will provide the best healthcare for the patient. In contrast to this statement, there is also a large body of evidence that the correlation between psychological disease and the OSA level is not sufficiently explained, and conduction of larger clinical studies on this topic would be useful for further guidelines [3,4].…”

“…The negative influence of OSA on the patient's quality of life is properly documented by numerous studies. Except the physical health itself, OSA has a great impact on mental health and emotional status, and several studies confirmed that OSA may even worsen the bed partner's quality of life due to snoring during the night and consequently decrease the energy and vitality of the bed partner [2][3][4]. The disease rate is slightly higher in the male population and has not changed significantly in the previous decade [5].…”

“…In addition, it is important to highlight that obstructive sleep apnea is more than sleepiness because it brings a number of specific and nonspecific symptoms, which can influence on the patient's quality of life. According to available data, untreated and undiagnosed OSA leads to a decrease in work productivity, increased number of accidents at work or in traffic, and it can increase health system utilization and consequently create greater costs for the patient and health system as well [3,4].…”

The Future of Telemedicine for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment: A Narrative Review

“…Another area for improvement involves the absence of standardized calculation methods for CPAP indices across manufacturers [51], along with the necessity for thorough validation of devices utilized in multimodal telemonitoring of various health-related parameters [45]. Finally, numerous regulatory matters concerning data safety and healthcare regulation remain unresolved, and additional enhancements should concentrate on delineating the pertinent data for medical diagnosis and follow-up purposes [77].…”

BDNF and proBDNF Serum Protein Levels in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Their Involvement in Insomnia and Depression Symptoms

“…Recently more studies have been focusing on the psychiatric aspects of this disorder, i.e., increased prevalence of affective diseases (particularly depression), cognitive impairment, or co-existing insomnia. The prevalence of this condition in patients with OSA in some studies reaches up to 84% [ 14 ]; it might greatly affect a patient’s prognosis and overall health as well as affect adherence to treatment and its potential effectiveness [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In one study, the risk of all-cause mortality in the OSA group with comorbid insomnia was 47% higher than non-insomnia OSA controls [ 18 ].…”