Apnea may be more than an interrupted doze
Apnea may be more than an interrupted doze
Patients with a common sleeping problem could have a bigger risk factor in heart disease than high blood pressure or high cholesterol, say researchers. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have a three-fold higher risk of coronary heart disease than others.
Apnea is defined as more than five episodes of obstruction per hour of sleep. Fortunately, simple measurements of the oral cavity, together with measurements of body mass and neck circumference provide a rapid, accurate method for predicting the syndrome. Results of a recent study of 300 patients suggest that the morphometric model may be clinically useful as a screening tool.
Reference
1. Kushida CA, Efron B, Guilleminault C. A predictive morphometric model for the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med 1997; 127:581-587.
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