clinical features
Last reviewed 09/2021
Possible clinical features include:
- loud snores
- typically present for many years (often from childhood)
- may be exacerbated following the ingestion of alcohol before bedtime or following an increase in body weight
- apnoeic episodes characterized by cessation of breathing/choking episodes
- usually noticed by the bed partner and sometimes he/she may awaken the patient to reestablish the breathing
- termination of the apnoeic event is often associated with loud snores and vocalizations that consist of gasps, moans, or mumblings
- patients are often unaware of these loud snoring and breathing difficulty or of the frequent arousals and brief awakenings that occur throughout the night.
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- most common presenting symptom
- causes day time fatigue and concentration difficulties
- occurs when the patient is relaxing e.g. - when sitting, reading or watching television
- in extreme cases patient may fall asleep while actively conversing, eating, walking or driving
- in addition there can be symptoms which are commonly observed upon awakening
- feeling unrefreshed
- feelings of disorientation, grogginess, mental dullness, and incoordination
- severe dryness of the mouth – often results in patient drinking water during the night or upon waking in the morning
- morning headaches – characteristically dull and generalized and often lasts for 1-2 hours
- irritability, changes in personality
- nocturia
- loss of libido
- sleep quality of bedpartners may also be affected (1,2,3)
Note:
- obstructive sleep apnoea may be a modifiable factor for vascular disease
Reference:
- (1) American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The international classification of sleep disorders, revised. Diagnostic and coding manual
- (2) Greenstone M, Hack M. Obstructive sleep apnoea. BMJ. 2014;348:g3745
- (3) Parati G et al. Recommendations for the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension. Eur Respir J. 2013;41(3):523-38
defining the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults
positional OSAHS (Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome)