Obstructive sleep apnea. Diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract

The studies cited in this article highlight the remarkable effectiveness of nasal CPAP therapy in reversing the clinical consequences of obstructive sleep apnea and underscore the importance of long-term compliance with therapy. This information should be shared with patients to impress on them to continue with their treatment. The economic cost of sleepiness and sleep-related accidents to society has been estimated to be in the billions of dollars. This estimate would be even higher if the costs of treating the secondary medical conditions were also included. Considerable cost savings could be realized if more people are convinced to seek medical help and receive appropriate therapy as early as possible.