Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recently published guidance on the use of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) devices to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). OSA has been reported to affect up to 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-aged women in the UK, with an estimate of 1% suffering from severe OSA. We understand that these figures are representative of those suffering from OSA in Ireland.

The guidance is available in full at www.nice.org.uk/TA139

Untreated OSA has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure, as well as fatal road accidents.

Today, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is widely undiagnosed and untreated in Ireland and is often overlooked when patients present issues relating to fatigue and sleep disturbance.