Sleep Apnea classification
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Classification
Sleep apnea can be classified into three categories:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
This is the commonest of the three forms. It results from the narrowing or total blockage of the respiratory airway which occurs when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea
Unlike OSA, the respiratory passages are not blocked, but the brain is unable to send appropriate signal to the muscles that control breathing due to the instability of the respiratory center.
Mixed Apnea and Complex Sleep Apnea
Some individuals may have a combination of both types of sleep apnea. Complex sleep apnea (CompSA, also called 'treatment-emergent central sleep apnea') is the emergence or an increase in central apneas during the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) treatment in an individual with a longstanding or severe obstructive sleep apnea.