Non-surgical Treatments for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
摘要
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common and serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep due to the collapse of the upper airway. This condition results in various severe negative consequences including cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological disturbances. Early identification and management of this condition enhance the overall well-being and mitigate the likelihood of future morbidity and mortality, alleviating personal and societal hardships, as well as financial expenses. There are several treatments for OSA, which contain conservative, technological, and pharmaceutical modalities, and combination therapy of two or more kinds of treatments is very common; primary or major types of treatment include Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy, surgery, and oral appliances, which are used alone or in combination for patients at risk of OSA side effects. Adjunctive treatments include lifestyle modifications, weight loss, and positional therapy, which aim to keep the airway open and reduce apnea and hypopnea. With the progress of studies and increasing knowledge of the pathophysiology of this disease, different phenotypes of OSA have been identified. Efforts are now being made to provide treatments based on the specific disease-causing phenotype in each patient (patient-based treatment). The use of advanced technologies, such as hypoglossal nerve stimulators which are implants that work by stimulating the nerves around the upper airway to maintain this part patency, and pharmacotherapy has also received more attention in the treatment of this disease.