Clinical Profile Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS)

Abstract

Background: This study was undertaken to analyse the clinical profile of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), so as to facilitate early diagnosis of OSAS. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted at pulmonary medicine department of tertiary care hospital. Data of 68 patients diagnosed as OSAS, was reviewed to study symptomatology, demography, various probability scores and co-morbidities associated with OSAS. Results: We observed male predominance in the male to female ratio of 1.95:1. Dominant age group we found in our study was 40-55 years, as 41.17% patients belonged to this age group. Total 88.23% patients had there neck circumferences > 37cm whereas 85.28% patients had BMI >25. With respect to mallampati score 94.1% patients had score >2. Epworth sleepiness scale was in favour of sleepiness in 76.46% patients. Of SACS, APNEIC and STOP BANG scores, STOP BANG was found have statistical significance with OSAS as 92.64% patients had score >3. Most common co-morbidity observed were GERD 76.47%, followed by Hypertension 52.94% and Diabetes Mellitus 45.58%. Only 11.76% patients had moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), whereas 67.64% had mild PH and 20.58% didn’t have any PH. Conclusion: Our study indicates symptomatology is most important indicator of OSAS and any patient having loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness should be subjected for polysomnography. However owing to sparse availability of PSG and its cost pretest probability scores can play important role to select patients for PSG. Also concomitant diagnosis and management of comorbidities is crucial for optimal treatment of OSAS. Also active case finding is necessary in females, as they always hide the symptoms to avoid social stigmata, which leads to serious consequences.