Clinical guideline for the evaluation, management and long-term care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults

Lawrence J. Epstein, David Kristo, Patrick J. Strollo, Norman Friedman, Atul Malhotra, Susheel P. Patil, Kannan Ramar, Robert Rogers, Richard J. Schwab, Edward M. Weaver, Michael D. Weinstein

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1854 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic disorder that often requires lifelong care. Available practice parameters provide evidence-based recommendations for addressing aspects of care. Objective: This guideline is designed to assist primary care providers as well as sleep medicine specialists, surgeons, and dentists who care for patients with OSA by providing a comprehensive strategy for the evaluation, management and long-term care of adult patients with OSA. Methods: The Adult OSA Task Force of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) was assembled to produce a clinical guideline from a review of existing practice parameters and available literature. All existing evidence-based AASM practice parameters relevant to the evaluation and management of OSA in adults were incorporated into this guideline. For areas not covered by the practice parameters, the task force performed a literature review and made consensus recommendations using a modified nominal group technique. Recommendations: Questions regarding OSA should be incorporated into routine health evaluations. Suspicion of OSA should trigger a comprehensive sleep evaluation. The diagnostic strategy includes a sleep-oriented history and physical examination, objective testing, and education of the patient. The presence or absence and severity of OSA must be determined before initiating treatment in order to identify those patients at risk of developing the complications of sleep apnea, guide selection of appropriate treatment, and to provide a baseline to establish the effectiveness of subsequent treatment. Once the diagnosis is established, the patient should be included in deciding an appropriate treatment strategy that may include positive airway pressure devices, oral appliances, behavioral treatments, surgery, and/or adjunctive treatments. OSA should be approached as a chronic disease requiring long-term, multidisciplinary management. For each treatment option, appropriate outcome measures and long-term follow-up are described.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)263-276
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Volume5
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Behavioral treatment
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Oral appliance treatment
  • Positive airway pressure treatment
  • Sleep evaluation
  • Surgical treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Clinical guideline for the evaluation, management and long-term care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this