Almost twenty years ago obstmctive sleep apnea was considered to be a medical curiosity that was of little importance, and snoring was merely the subject of humor than one of serious investigation. Although the clinical manifestations of sleep apnea syndrome have been described as early as in the fat boy Joe in Charles Dickens Pickwick Papers, it was Gastaut in 1965 who provided the first detailed polygraphic description of the manifestations of this sleep related breathing disorder. Since that date countless studies have been perfornled and published, concerning all possible aspects of sleep apnea syndrome. Epidemiological and clinical research revealed that the obshuctive sleep apnea syndrome may be considered a major public health problem and that the sequelae of the syndrome may have devastating consequences for the lives of those affected, but the long telm sequelae of obstmctive sleep apnea need fmiher elucidation in well designed studies. This chapter provides a review of prevalence, pathogenesis, natural history, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of Obstmctive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). First a brief description of the spectnnll of sleep related breathing disorders is given.

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Dutch Health Insurance Council, Resprecare Medical B.V., ComCare B.V., Tefa Portanje B.V., Dutch Society for Sleep-Wake Research, Air Liquide Medical VitalAire
F.G.A. van der Meché (Frans)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/20894
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Boot, H. (2000, June 28). Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Pathogenetic Aspects and Treatment. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/20894