title: Treatment outcome of sleep apnea.
abstract: Two hundred one patients diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were interviewed 12-24 months after their evaluation regarding those daytime symptoms associated with sleep apnea: sleepiness, fatigue, impaired memory, and snoring. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was the treatment most often used by severe sleep apnea patients, and this improved daytime alertness in 84% of the patients. Patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea often had surgery which led to 85% reporting improved daytime alertness. Patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea usually were treated with weight loss or changing sleep position and also improved 64% and 66%. Patients who declined or failed treatment did not improve. Guidelines for the treatment of sleep apnea are suggested.
authors.affiliation: New Haven Sleep Disorders Center, CT 06511.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000592:standards*; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome