diagnostic tests for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)-OSAHS (obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome) overlap syndrome
Last edited 09/2021 and last reviewed 10/2021
Diagnostic tests for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)-OSAHS (obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome) overlap syndrome
Diagnosing ventilatory failure
- measure arterial or arterialised capillary blood gas when the person with suspected COPD-OSAHS overlap syndrome is awake, to assess for ventilatory failure
- do not delay treatment for acute ventilatory failure to carry out further investigations for COPD-OSAHS overlap syndrome.
Diagnosing OSAHS or nocturnal hypoventilation in people with suspected COPD-OSAHS overlap syndrome
- offer respiratory polygraphy, either in hospital or at home, to diagnose OSAHS in people with suspected COPD–OSAHS overlap syndrome
- consider adding transcutaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring during sleep to respiratory polygraphy to provide additional information to guide treatment
- do not use oximetry alone to diagnose OSAHS or nocturnal hypoventilation in people with suspected COPD–OSAHS overlap syndrome
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