Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: New Insights

Abstract

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is an obesity-dependent sleep disorder that has acquired great importance worldwide due to its prevalence and the fact that its features may lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality whilst reducing life quality. This condition is characterised by the presence of chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure not secondary to other causes, alveolar hypoventilation during sleep and with or without apnoeic episodes. In this review, we have gone over new insights about OHS, diagnosis and the role of positive airway pressure, in particular the mechanisms that provide general improvement, physical relief, clinical applications, and management.