IDENTIFICATION OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA IN PATIENTS WHO SNORE

As the field of sleep medicine has evolved, the clinical implications of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in snoring patients have become well accepted, Recent advances in surgical therapy for snoring allow otolar yngologists to offer simple outpatient-treatment to patients with this problem, However, because the incidence of OSA in snorers seeking med ical attention is unknown, the appropriate pretreatment evaluation of these patients is a subject of continued debate. Ninety-four snoring p atients were recruited for a study to determine the incidence of OSA i n this highly selected population, Subjects answered an extensive slee p questionnaire to determine factors that might suggest a diagnosis of OSA, Level III ambulatory sleep studies were performed on each partic ipant. The incidence of OSA in this group was 72% (42% were and 30% mi ld to moderate). Twenty of the subjects with OSA also underwent; forma l level I sleep studies, and the diagnosis of OSA was confirmed in eac h instance. Although there was a relationship between body mass index and OSA and certain questions correlated with OSA, the sensitivity and specificity of these data alone or its combination were too low to re commend their use in lieu of a formal sleep study, Given the remarkabl y high incidence of OSA in this group, which may reflect that seen by otolaryngologists who treat snoring a sleep study should be performed to diagnose OSA and institute therapy for this condition. Level III am bulatory monitoring devices may be the most cost-effective alternative for evaluating this high-risk population.