OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a respiratory disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of apnea or hypopnea during sleep, caused by the collapse of upper airway tissues, primarily at the pharyngeal level. This leads to oxygen desaturation and micro-arousals. Although its historical roots trace back to ancient Greece and the 19th century, it was clinically defined in 1970 by Christian Guilleminault, who expanded its concept to include hypopneas. Currently, OSA is diagnosed using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), considered significant when AHI ≥ 15 events/hour or ≥ 5 events/hour if associated with symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness, extreme fatigue, or impaired quality of life. A non-systematic bibliographic search was conducted in Science Direct, EMBASE, LILACS, Redalyc, SciELO, and PubMed databases. Inclusion criteria were publications in English and Spanish with titles, keywords, or abstracts relevant to the study objective, and a publication date within the last five years. A total of 31 works were selected. The study concludes that OSA is a common disorder influenced by factors such as obesity, age, and gender, with variable symptoms impacting quality of life. Diagnosis is based on methods like polysomnography, the gold standard, and severity classification depends on the apnea-hypopnea index and other parameters. Treatment includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), mandibular advancement devices, and surgery, depending on the severity and patient characteristics, with adenotonsillectomy being the main option in children. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for effective management.