Finding opportunities for early detection of sleep apnea

• Ekaterina V. Plemyannikova
• Andrey G. Obrezan

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is an extremely common disease, but extremely rarely diagnosed. Patients with apnea have a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders, diseases of the circulatory system (CSC), and perioperative complications than without it. Untimely detection of OSA can lead to difficult-to-treat conditions such as hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders, obesity, atherosclerosis, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, etc. Untreated apnea creates increased risks of cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction, acute cerebrovascular accident, sudden cardiac death, including in the perioperative period. In patients with apnea, the length of stay in bed increases, including in the intensive care unit. In this regard, the obvious task is to find universal screening algorithms for timely detection of OSA.

The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a validated OSA screening tool for patients undergoing surgical treatment. It is proposed to use the STOP-Bang questionnaire during preventive medical examinations (occupational examinations), as well as its inclusion in Russian clinical guidelines. Timely diagnosis and treatment of OSA can improve the effectiveness of the treatment.

Keywords: diseases of the circulatory system; cardiovascular complications; risks of perioperative complications; obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; apnea screening

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