OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING

Course overview

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING (SDB) IS A SYNDROME OF UPPER AIRWAY DYSFUNCTION DURING SLEEP THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY SNORING AND/OR INCREASED RESPIRATORY EFFORT SECONDARY TO GREATER UPPER AIRWAY RESISTANCE AND PHARYNGEAL COLLAPSIBILITY. OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA) IS A SLEEP DISORDER THAT INVOLVES A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE OR CESSATION OF AIRFLOW IN THE PRESENCE OF BREATHING EFFORT. AN ESTIMATED 58% OF MODERATE TO SEVERE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO OBESITY. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.