Addressing obstructive sleep apnea in the emergency department.
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent, serious disease that is under-recognized and under-treated. It results from a combination of increased pharyngeal collapsibility and impaired compensatory pharyngeal muscle dilator activity. OSA causes serious morbidity and mortality. OSA is also a public health problem in that it is an independent cause of car crashes, at great cost to society in dollars and lives. OSA is conservatively estimated to affect 2-4% of Americans; however, recent estimates are much higher.


OBJECTIVE
To educate emergency physicians on the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of OSA and discuss diagnostic approaches and recommendations that can be made from the emergency department (ED).


CONCLUSIONS
Emergency physicians can play an important role in the recognition and referral of patients at risk for OSA. A focused history and physical examination or the use of a structured evaluation can identify patients at risk for OSA. In addition to referring patients at risk for OSA for further diagnostic work-up, emergency physicians can offer recommendations such as weight loss, moderation of alcohol use and certain medications, and smoking cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
OSA is a common disease in the United States that is under-recognized and under-treated. ED patients who do not regularly see a primary care provider or have no primary care provider are particularly at risk for undiagnosed OSA. Emergency physicians can play an important role in recognizing patients at risk for OSA, referring them for further diagnostic work-up, and offering recommendations from the ED.
Vearrier
David
D
Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Phillips
Barbara
B
Greenberg
Michael I
MI
D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States