Prediction in obstructive sleep apnoea: diagnosis, comorbidity risk, and treatment outcomes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common disorder, under-diagnosed, and can be difficult to treat adequately across the lifespan. OSA is a heterogeneous disorder with different risk factors, clinical presentations, pathophysiology and morbidity. Prediction has an important role in OSA recognition and management, embodied in screening methods to circumvent the need for diagnosis by overnight sleep studies and prediction of treatment efficacy and adherence. Other opportunities exist in predicting susceptibility to comorbidity and health outcomes.

Areas covered: This review summarizes current prediction strategies as applied to OSA, covering diagnosis, consequences and treatment outcomes, as well as potential emergent areas of focus.

Expert commentary: Prediction of disease risk, susceptibility to comorbidity, and treatment outcomes are important aspects of precision medicine. The key to accurate prediction in OSA relies on comprehensive understanding of disease phenotypes.

KEYWORDS:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• prediction
• precision medicine
• phenotype
• treatment efficacy

Declaration of interest

P Cistulli holds an endowed academic chair position at the University of Sydney, funded by ResMed Inc. He has also received research support from ResMed Inc, SomnoMed and Zephyr Sleep Technologies, and has consulted for Zephyr Sleep Technologies, NovoNordisk and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. P de Chazal holds an endowed academic chair position at the University of Sydney, funded by ResMed Inc. A reviewer on this manuscript has disclosed that they are a study investigator and received honoraria and travel expenses for invited talks on behalf of Resmed and Inspire Medical. Another reviewer on this manuscript has disclosed receiving honoraria to act as a consultant for Novion pharmaceuticals and Cambridge Sound Management. This reviewer also declares owning equity in Apnimed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded.