Awareness Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research Articles

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patient Families in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study [Letter

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patient Families in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study [Letter

Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patient Families in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), if left untreated, can have major negative effects on health, such as an elevated risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Increasing people's knowledge of this illness might lessen the stigma associated with sleep problems and motivate them to get treatment if they think they might have OSA. This study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of OSA among patients' families in Saudi Arabia. A phenomenological-oriented study with in-depth interviews was used to collect data from 28 participants. Two themes and subthemes emerged from the interviews, revealing significant knowledge gaps, especially regarding the health risks and management of OSA. Only a few participants were aware of the serious health implications of untreated OSA. Furthermore, many did not know about effective management strategies for OSA. The level of awareness and knowledge among participants was poor, with participants' lifestyles significantly affected by having relatives with OSA. They expressed concerns about challenges with CPAP adherence and recommended various coping techniques to support affected individuals.

"Count on Sleep": an OSA awareness project update.

Martin JL, Rowley J, Goel N, etal. "Count on Sleep": an OSA awareness project update. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(2):303-307.

Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among the Population of the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disease that causes a person to consciously breathe and have episodes during sleep in which airflow either completely stops or significantly slows down. The epidemiology and awareness of this disease is understudied in our region. In the present study, we aimed to examine the knowledge and awareness of OSA among the general population of the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, which was carried out from March to November 2022, data were collected from the adult population of the Jazan region using a self-administered questionnaire and presented as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Descriptive analysis, t-test, and Chi-square test were used for analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The number of participants in the study was 523, of which 30% were aware of OSA. Poor knowledge was reported among the participants regarding the complications of OSA, and some participants identified that stroke (38%), diabetes (13.4%), dementia (10.3%), and myocardial infarction (30%) are complications of OSA. Those between 18 and 29 years were most aware of OSA, and males’ knowledge was better than that of females. Conclusion About 40% of the included participants were aware of OSA, and most had poor knowledge. We found that most people have no reliable sources of information, and medical professionals need to put more effort toward raising people’s awareness of OSA. Further studies with a larger population are required to evaluate OSA’s awareness level.

Knowledge and Awareness of Parents About Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Jeddah: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is relatively common in childhood and is characterized by repeated partial or complete blockages of the upper airway during sleep. Children affected by OSA can experience various symptoms including snoring, restless sleep, and behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and aggression, which interfere with their quality of life. Additionally, OSA can result in serious conditions such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of OSA among parents in the Jeddah region. Methodology An observational cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of OSA among all parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited through social media platforms. The online survey assessed the knowledge regarding the OSA definition, risk factors, associated symptoms, and treatment. Results A total of 462 participants were included. Only 16% of participants had a good level of knowledge of OSA, while the remaining 84% had a poor level of knowledge. The mean knowledge score was 15.39 ± 5.8, with a significant difference between occupations (P=0.039). Conclusion Our study reveals that parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have a low level of knowledge about pediatric OSA, with only 16% demonstrating good knowledge and less than half recognizing the definition of OSA. This lack of knowledge could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, negatively impacting children's health and academic performance. Common symptoms of OSA reported by parents were restless sleep, mouth breathing, and snoring, but bedwetting and hyperactivity were poorly recognized. Adenoids, allergic sinusitis, enlarged tonsils, asthma, and obesity were identified as risk factors for OSA. Improving parental awareness of OSA through public campaigns, doctor consultations, and education programs is crucial. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.

Low levels of awareness of obstructive sleep apnoea amongst the Australian general public

Abstract Introduction: Despite the serious health implications associated with obstructive sleep apnoea, the condition remains under-diagnosed. This study aims to evaluate the awareness of the condition amongst the Australian community. Methods: A total of 2016 respondents recruited from a web-based panel completed an online questionnaire which assessed awareness and experience of obstructive sleep apnoea and sleep-disordered breathing. The association between the level of awareness and various socio-demographic variables was analysed using uni- and multivariate analyses. Results: The results of the questionnaire indicated that 50% and 70% of participants were unaware of adult and paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea. Socio-demographic variables including age, annual household income and education level significantly influenced a participant’s level of awareness. Approximately 8.3% of the participants had previously been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea. However, 65% of participants exhibiting symptoms of daytime sleepiness had not sought health care. Paediatric sleep apnoea had been previously diagnosed in 7.1% of children residing in participant’s households but 49% of children with regular snoring had not been medically evaluated. Conclusion: A deficiency exists in the awareness of sleep apnoea amongst the Australian general public. This is reflected in the discrepancy between the number of participants exhibiting potential symptoms and those who sought medical advice.

Analysis of Referrals for Mandibular Advancement Appliances for Sleep Apnoea

Aim: This article investigates the increasing awareness of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) as a potentially serious health risk and highlights the role of the dentist in managing mild to moderate OSA cases which can be improved with an intra-oral mandibular advancement appliance. Methods: Data from referrals to a Prosthodontic Unit from 01-01-2019 to 18-8-2022 were analysed. Results: A total of 240 consecutive referrals to an NHS hospital where a patient was fitted with a mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) were analysed and 160 (67%) were male and 80 (33%) were female. The mean age in years was 52 (2019), 50 (2020), 52 (2021) and 51 (2022). Mean age of male referrals was 51 and female referrals was 53. Conclusion: There are a large number of patients with OSA seeking a dental device and practitioners should be aware of this treatment modality to help the medical team manage OSA. Clinical relevance: Dentists may need to have a greater understanding of OSA and be able to provide MAAs.

Facilitators and barriers to getting obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed: perspectives from patients and their partners.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent and debilitating condition that is significantly underdiagnosed. The majority of adults sleep with someone-a partner. Partners can play a significant role in the patient's OSA diagnosis. The goal of this work is to describe facilitators and barriers to OSA diagnosis as discussed by patients with OSA and their partners. This was a qualitative secondary analysis with results drawn from 20 dyadic interviews, conducted 1 couple at a time, in 20 newly diagnosed adult patients with OSA and their partners. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Facilitators of OSA diagnosis were partners pushing patients to seek care, patients actively seeking care, and care providers identifying the patient's risk of OSA. Barriers to OSA diagnosis were patients' lack of serious attention to symptoms, patients' negative perceptual framing of diagnosis and treatment of OSA, and poor coordination of health care services. We recommend engaging partners in the OSA diagnosis and developing educational and behavioral interventions to raise public awareness about OSA. It is important to educate clinicians on atypical presentations of OSA. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the impact of health care services on OSA diagnosis. Ye L, Li W, Willis DG. Facilitators and barriers to getting obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed: perspectives from patients and their partners. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(3):835-841.

English

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed. It has been observed that sleep disorders aren’t given adequate importance in dental education. This survey was conducted to access the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental clinicians regarding OSA. METHODS A study was carried out using a 33-item questionnaire that assessed the knowledge of OSA; 2 questions regarding the attitude and practice of OSA amongst dental clinicians along with 1 question on the source of information about OSA. The questions related to knowledge covered OSA-related risk factors, symptoms, complications and treatment of OSA. The survey was passed on via social media. RESULTS 111 subjects participated in the survey. Participants showed poor knowledge regarding diabetes mellitus as a complication (7.2 %), increased age as a predisposing factor (22.5 %), nocturia as a symptom (15.3 %) and alcohol restriction as a line of treatment (34 %) for OSA. Chi-square test suggests that comparison of knowledge with experience for cardiovascular disease (CVS) disorders as complications and age & snoring as predisposing factors shows statistical significance for better knowledge of the experience group of 6 - 10 years. Other knowledge scores were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS The descriptive data suggests that the dental clinicians in this study were informed regarding the knowledge associated with sleep apnoea. The knowledge scores when compared with the years of experience showed that there was statistical significance regarding knowledge of cardiovascular disease as a complication of OSA and age over 45 years & snoring as a predisposing factor for OSA. The chi-square test indicated that the experience group of 6 - 10 years had better knowledge than the other groups. Although there is no statistical significance in comparison with the other knowledge factors when compared to the years of experience, this could be suggestive of lack of awareness of OSA in the dental curriculum as well as lack of resources such as continued dental education and seminars for updating the knowledge on OSA for practicing dentists. KEY WORDS Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Questionnaire, Knowledge, Awareness, Practice, Attitude, Survey

A comprehensive review of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a complex disorder characterized by collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Downstream effects involve the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurocognitive systems. OSA is more prevalent in men than women. Clinical symptoms suggest the diagnosis of OSA but none is pathognomonic of the condition. With rising awareness of OSA and the increasing prevalence of obesity, OSA is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity including systemic and pulmonary arterial hypertension, heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, atrial fibrillation, and other arrhythmias. Pulmonary manifestations include the development of chronic thromboembolic disease, which can then lead to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Neurocognitive morbidities include stroke and neurobehavioral disorders. Screening for OSA includes the use of symptom questionnaires and the diagnosis is confirmed by polysomnography. Management primarily includes the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) devices during sleep. Alternate options such as mandibular devices and surgical procedures are considered for certain patient populations.

Survey of parental awareness of obstructive sleep apnea among children in Guangdong province, South China

ObjectivesChildhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness level of OSA among parents in the general population of Guangdong province of South China. MethodsThis descriptive epidemiological study was conducted from July to November 2019 using an anonymous questionnaire that evaluated the knowledge of OSA-related symptoms and complications. Exclusion criteria included age under 18 years, refusal to fill out the questionnaire, and a linguistic barrier. ResultsA total of 1123 respondents participated in the survey. Among them, 530 (47.2%) respondents were aware of childhood OSA. The most common source of information about childhood OSA was the internet (49.9%). On multivariate analysis, the respondents obtained higher scores if they were mothers (B: -0.105, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.153,-0.057), lived in an urban area (B: -0.077, 95% CI: -0.125,-0.28), and knew about childhood OSA previously (B: -0.55, 95% CI:-0.598,-0.502). ConclusionParents demonstrated limited awareness of OSA complications. Innovative educational campaigns must be organized to inform medical practitioners and the general public about this disease and raise awareness about its complications. The effectiveness of the ongoing health education campaigns to increase awareness should be monitored by examining the temporal trends in public knowledge of childhood sleep apnea.

The innate immune toll-like-receptor-2 modulates the depressogenic and anorexiolytic neuroinflammatory response in obstructive sleep apnoea

The increased awareness of obstructive sleep apnoea’s (OSA) links to Alzheimer’s disease and major psychiatric disorders has recently directed an intensified search for their potential shared mechanisms. We hypothesised that neuroinflammation and the microglial TLR2-system may act as a core process at the intersection of their pathophysiology. Moreover, we postulated that inflammatory-response might underlie development of key behavioural and neurostructural changes in OSA. Henceforth, we set out to investigate effects of 3 weeks’ exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia in mice with or without functional TRL2 (TLR2+/+, C57BL/6-Tyrc-Brd-Tg(Tlr2-luc/gfp)Kri/Gaj;TLR2−/−,C57BL/6-Tlr2tm1Kir). By utilising multimodal imaging in this established model of OSA, a discernible neuroinflammatory response was demonstrated for the first time. The septal nuclei and forebrain were shown as the initial key seed-sites of the inflammatory cascade that led to wider structural changes in the associated neurocircuitry. Finally, the modulatory role for the functional TLR2-system was suggested in aetiology of depressive, anxious and anorexiolytic symptoms in OSA.

Awareness of obstructive sleep apnea among critical care physicians in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

BackgroundPatients with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) present to nearly all physicians irrespective of their specialties. A basic knowledge of OSA is considered essential to identify those patients for appropriate referral and treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of Sharkia Governorate Critical Care physicians regarding OSA using a standard validated questionnaire.ResultsThis cross-sectional survey study was performed on a sample of Sharkia Governorate physicians, from all critical care units in tertiary and secondary hospitals including the following specialties: chest, internal medicine, neurology, cardiology, pediatric, and anesthesia. The OSA knowledge and attitudes (OSAKA) questionnaire that consists of 18 knowledge assessment questions and the OSA attitude questionnaire that consists of 6 attitude assessment questions were used. A total of 231, out of 296 invited physicians, completed the given questionnaire with a response rate of 78%. The mean score for knowledge assessment was 10.05 ± 2.3 with a 33.3% adequate response, while the mean score for attitude assessment was 3.75 ± 1.22 with a 59.3% adequate response. The mean OSA knowledge (12.5 ± 2.42) and attitude (5 ± 0.78) scores were highest among chest physicians when compared to physicians from other specialties (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores was found among Sharkia Governorate critical care physicians (r = 0.55, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe level of knowledge of OSA among Sharkia Governorate critical care physicians was far from optimal whereas the attitude regarding OSA was acceptable.

Approach to the snoring child.

Sleep is an important component in a child's growth and development. Snoring is common in children and often perceived as benign, but habitual snoring may be an indication of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA can have health, developmental and cognitive consequences. The three common risk factors for paediatric OSA are tonsillar and/or adenoidal hypertrophy, obesity and allergic rhinitis. Primary care providers are well-placed to identify children at risk by screening for habitual snoring and associated OSA risk factors during routine consultations. Physician awareness of OSA symptoms/signs facilitates diagnosis, management and referral decisions. A trial of medical treatment may be considered for habitual snoring with mild symptoms/signs before referral. Overnight polysomnography is the gold standard investigation utilised by paediatric sleep specialists to diagnose OSA. Adenotonsillectomy is the first-line management for OSA with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, but residual/recurrent OSA may occur, so follow-up by primary care providers is important after surgery.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitudes Toward Obstructive Sleep Apnea among the Population of the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia in 2019.

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that involves the cessation or significant decrease in airflow along with a distinct effort to breathe. While there are several types of sleep apnea, OSA is the most common.MethodologyThis descriptive online cross-sectional study assessed knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards OSA over 30 days in a nonrandomized sample of the general population of the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects were included if they lived in the Asir region and were aged >18 years.ResultsOf the respondents who participated in the study, 64% were aware of OSA, whereas 36% were not. Most respondents reported that OSA was dangerous, whereas 24% did not know whether OSA was dangerous. Moreover, 81% of respondents reported that they did not know about methods of diagnosing OSA, and 84% did not know about the methods to treat OSA.ConclusionsSubjects living in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia showed a low level of awareness of all aspects of OSA. Their lack of sources of knowledge indicates the need for medical staff to improve awareness and knowledge of OSA.

Awareness of obstructive sleep apnea and its effects on daily life among health professionals from Karachi, Pakistan.

Sleep disturbances are be poorly documented by primary care physicians. Our objective for this survey was to assess the awareness level amongst medical and dental house officers, medical and dental practitioners, and ear, nose and throat specialists (ENTs) regarding OSA and its effects on daily life. This was a questionnaire-based survey with yes and no and true and false type questions. In order to assess knowledge, questions related to the most common signs and symptoms of OSA were selected. Questionnaires were distributed in seven medical and dental colleges in Karachi, Pakistan under graduates and above. Stratified random sampling technique was used to assess specific professionals which made a total sample size of 614. The data of this descriptive study was compiled and analyzed using SPSS version 20. 84% of the participants stated their awareness about OSA. After analyzing a detailed response in the form of questionnaires, an average of only 15% showed adequate knowledge of the problem in question, the rest was unaware of the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms and management of a patient suffering from OSA. knowledge about pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea and its effect on daily routine work is insufficient among health professionals. It is essential to create awareness among medical and dental fraternity regarding OSA as it is often not diagnosed and treated.

TARGETING OSA USING STATE-BASED SURVEILLANCE

TARGETING OSA USING STATE-BASED SURVEILLANCE

Knowledge of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Dental Fraternity in Riyadh.

AIM:To assess and compare the knowledge of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among final years dental students, interns, dental practitioners and faculty working in and around Riyadh.METHODS:A questionnaire-based study comprising of 16 questions was conducted among final year dental clinical students, interns, dental practitioners and faculty working in and around Riyadh. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS version 21) was used to analyse the statistical data. The p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS:A total of 450 respondents took part in the study. When gender comparison was done regarding the awareness of OSA, statistically significant differences were noted for the majority of questions. The response rate for the knowledge-based questions varied statistically concerning their speciality and educational qualifications. 65% of the participants admitted that they were unaware of the diagnostic tests performed for diagnosing these patients. It was noted that 85% of the participants wanted to attend a CDE program to know more about OSA.CONCLUSION:The study concludes that there is a significant lack of knowledge among final year students, interns and general dentists. This study emphasises the need for all dental professionals to regularly update their knowledge and equip themselves to identify and treat such patients at an early stage.

A Wake-up Call for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Providers: Obstructive Sleep Apnea in People Living With HIV.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is defined by repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep leading to transient hypoxemia and arousals from sleep. Surges in sympathetic activity, repeated oxygen desaturation, and sleep fragmentation can lead to cardiovascular (eg, myocardial infarction) and neurocognitive (eg, excessive daytime sleepiness) consequences. Emerging data suggest that OSA is common in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) and that traditional risk factors for OSA, such as obesity, are not highly predictive of OSA in PLWH. Untreated OSA is associated with increased fatigue and levels of inflammation. Despite these data, most PLWH with OSA remain undiagnosed and untreated. Improved awareness of OSA among healthcare providers and greater use of OSA diagnostic approaches have the potential to substantially improve quality of life and outcomes in PLWH.

Awareness of obstructive sleep apnea among university students in Malaysia

Awareness of obstructive sleep apnea among university students in Malaysia