Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder defined by recurrent episodes of complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, accompanied by daytime symptoms such as excessive sleepiness. Repeated narrowing or collapse of the pharyngeal …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 5 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 29× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2574-4518 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder defined by recurrent episodes of complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, accompanied by daytime symptoms such as excessive sleepiness. Repeated narrowing or collapse of the pharyngeal airway interrupts airflow despite continued respiratory effort, producing oxygen desaturation, surges in sympathetic activity, and arousals that fragment sleep. Severity is graded by the apnea–hypopnea index, the number of obstructive events per hour of sleep. Predisposing factors include obesity, craniofacial and upper-airway anatomy, and reduced pharyngeal muscle tone, and the disorder is notably more prevalent in certain groups, including individuals with Down syndrome and some connective-tissue conditions. Untreated OSAHS carries significant consequences: chronic daytime fatigue and impaired concentration, mood disturbance, and elevated risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease; severe cases have been associated with serious adverse outcomes. Diagnosis relies on clinical evaluation and sleep study measurement of respiratory events, airflow, and oxygenation. Management combines behavioral and weight measures with airway-directed therapies, the most established being continuous positive airway pressure, alongside alternatives such as nasal expiratory positive airway pressure devices, oral appliances, and, in selected cases, surgery. By recognizing and treating the obstructive events, clinicians aim to restore normal nocturnal breathing, improve sleep quality, and reduce the long-term health risks of the syndrome.

Research published in this journal

5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 5 articles above have been cited 29 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Sleep And Sleep Disorder Research (ISSN 2574-4518).

Journal editorial board
Dragos Octavian Palade · Romania Mauro Manconi · Switzerland Karim Sedky · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.