Sleep-related breathing disorders are a group of conditions characterised by abnormal respiration during sleep, ranging from increased upper-airway resistance and snoring to recurrent partial or complete cessation of airflow and disorders of ventilation. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea, in which repetitiv…
Sleep-related breathing disorders are a group of conditions characterised by abnormal respiration during sleep, ranging from increased upper-airway resistance and snoring to recurrent partial or complete cessation of airflow and disorders of ventilation. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea, in which repetitive collapse of the upper airway causes apneas and hypopneas, intermittent hypoxaemia, and fragmented sleep; central sleep apnea, arising from unstable respiratory drive, and sleep-related hypoventilation and hypoxaemia complete the spectrum. These disorders produce excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired concentration and memory, and reduced quality of life, and are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic consequences. Obstructive sleep apnea is influenced by anatomical and physiological factors, including craniofacial and upper-airway structure, obesity, and conditions such as Down syndrome and type 2 diabetes that alter risk, and rare structural contributors such as cervical osteophytosis have been described. Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment and objective sleep testing to quantify respiratory events and oxygenation, while risk-screening tools help identify candidates for evaluation. Management ranges from behavioural and positional measures and treatment of contributing conditions to positive-airway-pressure and nasal expiratory devices and surgical approaches, with therapy guided by severity and the physiological mechanism involved. Understanding the pathophysiology, recognition, and treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders is central to reducing their substantial impact on health, daytime function, and long-term outcomes.
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