OSA epidemiology

Authors

Hsin-Ching Lin
Russell Chung-Wei Lin
Michael Friedman, Advocate Health - MidwestFollow

Recommended Citation

Lin H-C, Lin RC-W, Friedman M. OSA Epidemiology. In: Delakorda M, de Vries N, eds. The Role of Epiglottis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Springer International Publishing; 2023:3-11.

Affiliations

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repeated upper-airway collapse during sleep and is strongly related to severe physiological consequences. Identifying any airway collapsibility is key to the success of OSA treatment. The role of the epiglottis in OSA has not been paid much attention to in the field of sleep medicine during past decades. However, increasing studies that focus on the role of the epiglottis in OSA have been reported in recent years. Although the study findings are still relatively limited, they clearly show evidence of the epiglottis contributing to the pathophysiology of airway integrity in OSA. Furthermore, the data suggest that the prevalence of epiglottis collapse in OSA could be underestimated in previous literature. Sleep physicians and surgeons should better understand and characterize this intricate relevance between the epiglottis and OSA and may explore more appropriate diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with OSA.

Document Type

Book Chapter

Book Chapter/Book Details

In: Delakorda M, de Vries N, eds. The Role of Epiglottis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Springer International Publishing; 2023.