Das obstruktive Schlafapnoesyndrom

Summary Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder affecting about 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-age women (~120000 persons in Switzerland), many of them remaining undiagnosed and untreated. OSAS is characterised by repetitive pharyngeal collapses during sleep. These collapses are mainly due to anatomical conditions such as obesity or retrognathism. Recent data suggest that respiratory control (loop gain) instability can also be a cause. Sleep apnoea and hypopnoea induce repetitive micro-arousals leading to decreased quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents. Recent epidemiological studies show that patients with OSAS are also at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease such as stroke, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.