A Rude Awakening — The Perioperative Sleep Apnea Epidemic

Obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of perioperative complications and is more prevalent among candidates for surgery than in the general population. With more than 40 million surgical procedures performed annually, the costs are high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of sleep disorders is reaching epidemic proportions, with as many as 70 million people in the United States affected by these conditions. It is estimated that 1 in 4 men and 1 in 10 women in this country have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 1 This disease complex places a burden on society and the health care system because of its association with adverse events ranging from loss of productivity to increased risk of cardiopulmonary illness and related death. OSA may also increase the risk of perioperative complications and is more . . .