The Benefits of Perioperative Screening for Sleep Apnea in Surgical Patients.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Untreated OSA can lead to about a 2-fold increase in medical expenses, mainly because of cardiovascular morbidity. OSA is highly prevalent in the surgical population, with an increased risk of perioperative complications. This article describes the perioperative and long-term social and economic benefits of preoperative screening for OSA. Screening patients to identify high-risk OSA is important to decrease the adverse outcomes and associated health care costs in the perioperative period. Screening for OSA is particularly relevant because most patients are undiagnosed at the time of surgery.
Department of Anesthesiology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.
Yamini
Y
Subramani
Department of Anesthesiology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.
Jean
J
Wong
Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, London Health Science Centre, St. Joseph Health Care, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 339 Windermere Road, London, ON N6A 5A5, Canada.
Mahesh
M
Nagappa
Department of Anesthesiology, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada. Electronic address: frances.chung@uhn.ca.
Frances
F
Chung
D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy
Cost; OSA; Postoperative complications; Screening