Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in an Atrial Fibrillation Population: What's the Best Test?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Among individuals with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be as high as 85%. Continuous positive airway pressure treatment for moderate or severe OSA might improve AF outcomes and quality of life, so early identification of OSA might be of value. However, screening questionnaires for OSA are suboptimal because they are weighted toward tiredness and loud snoring, which might be absent in AF patients. NoSAS (Neck, Obesity, Snoring, Age, Sex) is a new OSA questionnaire that excludes these parameters. Acoustic pharyngometry (AP) is a potential novel screening technique that measures pharyngeal cross-sectional area, which is reduced in patients with OSA.

Methods

We prospectively c

SUBMITTER: Starkey SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8129472 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature