Pathophysiology and Treatment of Sleep Apnea

The sleep apnea syndromes have attracted the interest of physicians and scientists in many different disciplines because the disorders involve the physiology of sleep, the control of respiration, the function of the upper airway, and the clinical sequelae upon cardiac, pulmonary, and psychological function. Over the eight years since this subject was last reviewed here (1), the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea has become better understood. A variety of new treatments are now available. However, our clinical knowledge of the syndrome and its natural history have changed little. The high prevalence of these syndromes and related disorders such as snoring is only beginning to be apparent. This chapter reviews current understanding of these syndromes, with particular emphasis on recent advances, and highlights questions for future investigation. First, we consider normal upper airway function and the control of breathing during sleep. Then, we apply this information to a consideration of the pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment of sleep apnea syndromes.