Associations and consequences of OSA

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder of breathing during sleep. A broad spectrum of symptoms such as snoring, episodes of gasping for air or choking, mouth breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and fatigue are reported to be suggestive of OSA in various ages. Variable presenting symptoms, a wide age range of afflicted individuals, and the presence of multiple comorbidities may bring patients with OSA to the attention of a variety of medical specialists. Clinicians should be aware that OSA impacts not only breathing during sleep, but also body homeostasis by altering the function of multiple systems. OSA may be associated with clinical consequences leading to cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic, metabolic, neurobehavioral, and neurocognitive morbidities. Early recognition and management of associations and consequences of OSA improves quality of life, prevents adverse effects on the individual, and enhances clinicians’ ability to provide high-quality care. This article provides an overview of the known associations and consequences of OSA.