Epidemiology and Etiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
- Author:
Dae Wui YOON
1
;
Jin Kwan KIM
;
Chol SHIN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea; Cardiovascular diseases; Etiology; Sleep disorders
- MeSH: Anoxia; Cardiovascular Diseases; Chronic Disease; Depression; Epidemiology*; Female; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*; Sleep Deprivation; Sleep Wake Disorders
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine 2015;89(1):6-12
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of common sleep disorders in western countries, affecting 4% of males and 2% of females. It is characterized by repeated obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, leading to intermittent hypoxemia, sympathetic activation, and sleep fragmentation. OSA is an independent risk factor for a range of medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and cognitive dysfunctions. The etiology of OSA is complex and incompletely understood, but recent studies have shown that the development of OSA depends on the structure of the airway anatomy, the responsiveness of the upper airway dilator muscle to stimulation, and the stability of the respiratory control system. This review details the epidemiological and experimental evidence surrounding the associations between OSA and chronic diseases. Recent findings on the etiology of OSA will also be discussed.
