Sleep is imperative for good health and problems related to sleep are common presentations to primary care. Disorders affecting breathing and sleep are varied in their causes and affect multiple body systems. The majority of patients with sleep-disordered breathing remain undiagnosed. This article will consider the pathophysiology of sleep-disordered breathing, how GPs can identify patients with sleep-disordered breathing and how these are managed in primary care.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BenjafieldAVAyasNTEastwoodPR, et al. (2019)
Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: A literature-based analysis. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine7(8): 687–698.
DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(19)30198-5.
2.
ChungFYegneswaranB, LiaoP, et al. (2008)
STOP Questionnaire: A tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology108: 812–821
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31816d83e4.
3.
CowieMRLinzDRedlineS, et al. (2021)
Sleep disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology78(6): 608–624. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.05.048.
JungSYKimHMinJ-Y, et al. (2019)
Sleep hygiene-related conditions in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Auris Nasus Larynx46(1): 95–100. DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2018.06.003.
7.
LechnerMBreezeCEOhayonMM, et al. (2019)
Snoring and breathing pauses during sleep: interview survey of a United Kingdom population sample reveals a significant increase in the rates of sleep apnoea and obesity over the last 20 years – data from the UK sleep survey. Sleep Medicine54: 250–256. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2018.08.029.