Optimal treatment of obstructive sleep apnea guided by physiological characteristics

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and heterogeneous disorder. Most patients can be successfully treated, but some have poor treatment outcomes. This review first presented four physiological OSA characteristics, including upper airway collapsibility, loop gain, airway muscle responsiveness, and arousal threshold, which are associated with the efficacy of OSA therapy. Then, we presented how to select the most effective therapy modality for each individual based on OSA characteristics, with the purpose of providing a basis for individualized treatment of OSA.