Atypical Catathrenia Mimicking Sleep Choking Sound of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Catathrenia is a rare type of sleep-related breathing disorder with benign course and generally does not require treatment. However, the psychological burden on patients and bed partners is not light. In most cases, due to the sound characteristic of identifiable harmonics, it can be easily diagnosed; however, in some cases, it has non-typical sounds, and polysomnography is essential to diagnose. Here, I report a middle-aged woman with choking sounds like an obstructive sleep apnea patient during sleep, with typical polysomnography features of catathrenia.