The problem of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in asthmatic patients

Abstract

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases. These have common risk factors that include obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and impaired nasal breathing (allergic rhinitis, sinusitis). At the same time, experimental evidence demonstrates common pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases, such as involvement in the process of the respiratory tract, a systemic inflammatory response, and implementation of neuromechanical reflexes. Thus, there is an obvious synergism between these conditions, which affects symptoms, response to therapy, and prognosis. The available data allow discussion on whether there is a need to identify and treat OSAS in asthmatic patients. By keeping in mind the high incidence of OSAS in patients with severe asthma, it may be suggested that treatment for OSAS can reduce the number of exacerbations, improve the quality of life, and decline the number of obstinate asthma cases. It is very important for general practitioners to assess risk factors, such as body weight, nasal stuffiness, and GERD, and to utilize screening tools for more efficient use of healthcare resources. Considering the known positive effects of CPAP therapy in short-term studies, future investigations should focus on the impact of CPAP therapy on asthma symptoms in the long-term, as well as on the effects of asthma drugs on the course of OSAS.

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea: Unveiling correlations and treatable traits for comprehensive care

“…Additionally, a higher symptom burden has been identified in asthmatic patients with OSA through screening tools such as questionnaires. 43 …”

Interrelationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Severe Asthma: From Endo-Phenotype to Clinical Aspects

“…The hypothesized mechanism underlying the interrelationship between OSAS and SA is shown in Table 3 . More recently, researchers have proposed that OSAS and asthma patients may be more susceptible to SA attacks induced by systemic inflammation ( 71 , 72 ). These findings strongly suggest that all asthmatic patients should be evaluated for OSAS-associated risk factors, such as gastroesophageal reflux and rhinitis, in order to detect—and eventually treat—sleep apneas.…”