Sleep apnea natural history, complications and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.

Overview

Sleep apnea can begin with loud snoring and eventually lead to serious complications. Common symptoms include daytime sleepiness, depression, and headaches. More serious complications include cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and hypertension. If sleep apnea is adequately treated, the prognosis is very good. If it is left untreated, patients can develop serious complications and have a poor prognosis.

Natural History

Sleep apnea is a progressive disease and its earliest manifestation is snoring^[1]
Heavy snoring leads towards prolonged apneas, followed by choking or gasping^[1]
Eventually, the snoring may happen more often and get louder
As a result, the patient can develop daytime sleepiness, depression, headaches, and impotence
If the sleep apnea is left untreated, more serious complications can arise such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, CHF, and atrial fibrillation

Complications

The following complications can develop as a result of sleep apnea:

Prognosis

The prognosis for patients is very good if properly treated
Obstructive sleep apnea can be a serious, life-threatening condition if left untreated
Poor prognostic factors in central sleep apnea include:

Alterations in neuromuscular control of breathing
Long-acting opioid medications^[2]

There is a poorer prognosis for patients with sleep apnea during surgery and anesthesia related procedures

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Grunstein, R.R. (1994). "Sleep apnoea - evolution and doubt". European Respiratory Journal. 7 (10): 1741–1743. doi:10.1183/09031936.94.07101741. ISSN 0000-0000.
↑ Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association. 2013. ISBN 0890425558.

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[Grunstein1994-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Grunstein, R.R. (1994). "Sleep apnoea - evolution and doubt". European Respiratory Journal. 7 (10): 1741–1743. doi:10.1183/09031936.94.07101741. ISSN 0000-0000.

[DSMV-2] Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association. 2013. ISBN 0890425558.

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