Quality of Life in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-hypopnea Syndrome

Gina Lizeth Castellanos Caro

doi:10.11144/javeriana.umed59-2.apne

Gina Lizeth Castellanos Caro

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11144/javeriana.umed59-2.apne

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Journal: Universitas Medica	Publication Date: Apr 12, 2018
License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidad de La Sabana

Abstract

Obstructive Sleep Apnea/hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) has as its fundamental mechanism the failure of tonic dilatation of the pharyngeal muscles during sleep. Its prevalence has been fixed between 2-4% in women and 4-8 % in men. This pathology elevates blood pressure, increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, causes excessive drowsiness and decreases the quality of life of patients who suffer it. Approximately 5% of the general population is affected in their daily lives due to this disorder. Therefore, it is pertinent to have instruments that effectively measure every aspect involved in OSAHS. In Colombia, there is currently no validated scale that evaluates the quality of life in OSAHS; however, worldwide, there are several instruments useful in this topic; one of these is the Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI), which is validated in four languages, including Spanish, but has not yet been validated in our country, which probably involves a language and cultural barrier at the time of application.

Highlights

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or total collapse of the upper airway during sleep, which causes hypoxemia, hypercapnia and repeated fragmentation [1,2,3]
OSAHS is associated with multiple cardiovascular, metabolic and psychosocial complications that affect the quality of life [12,13]
The Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI) is a specific questionnaire for OSAHS that measures domains such as daily functioning, social and emotional interactions and symptoms; the last domain of this questionnaire deals with possible adverse events to the treatment, which are evaluated by means of Likert-type scales of 7 points, being 1 the maximum deficiency, and 7, the one without deficiency

Summary

Introduction

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or total collapse (hypopnea or apnea) of the upper airway during sleep, which causes hypoxemia, hypercapnia and repeated fragmentation [1,2,3] These physiopathological changes are reflected in permanent daytime fatigue, headache, depression, poor work performance and lack of concentration. In patients with OSAHS there is a short-term increase in occupational and car accidents [16] All these conditions are directly related to the patient’s quality of life, and to cardiovascular and metabolic alterations [7,17]. The treatment is related to the impact in the patient’s daily life; due to this, it is necessary to measure the impact that both the disease and the therapeutic measures have on the patient’s quality of life [18,20]

Quality of Life Measurement Scales with the Syndrome

Findings

Conclusion