310318 Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Course overview

Discussion of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) including the risk factors, symptoms, traditional presentation, screening tools for OSA, health consequences, treatment, and improvement strategies related to OSA recognition and management. OSA is very common, affecting more than 18 million Americans, and it is estimated that two to four percent of children also suffer from it. OSA has multiple negative health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, weight gain, and memory problems, as well as potentially impacting job performance and contributing to motor vehicle accidents. There is a lack of awareness by both the public and healthcare professionals regarding OSA, causing many patients to remain undiagnosed and untreated, potentially leading to serious health consequences. This program discusses OSA, including risk factors, symptoms, screening tools, epidemiology, health consequences, treatment, and improvement strategies related to OSA recognition and management.