The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.
SMJ // Article
Review Article
Updates in the Management of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition with high prevalence, is characterized by reduced dilatory function of pharyngeal muscles, which can be influenced by upper airway narrowing, dilator muscle dysfunction, respiratory dysfunction, and genetics. Three of the most clinically important phenotypes of OSA include disturbed sleep, excessive sleepiness, and minimal symptoms, with varying implications for management and morbidity. This article reviews current perspectives on these OSA phenotypes, as well as the process of confirming a diagnosis of OSA. Lastly, this article delineates various current and future OSA therapy approaches through review and analysis of the existing literature with discussion on the outlook for OSA treatment.Posted in: Sleep Disorders1
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