Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Choosing the Appropriate Treatment of a Heterogeneous Disorder

Amanda J Piper; Ahmed S BaHammam; Shahrokh Javaheri

doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2017.07.008

Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Choosing the Appropriate Treatment of a Heterogeneous Disorder

Sleep Med Clin. 2017 Dec;12(4):587-596. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2017.07.008. Epub 2017 Sep 6.

Authors

Amanda J Piper¹, Ahmed S BaHammam², Shahrokh Javaheri³

Affiliations

¹ Sleep Unit, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia; Central Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² The University Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11324, Saudi Arabia; National Plan for Science and Technology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11324, Saudi Arabia.
³ Montgomery Sleep Laboratory, Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45242, USA; Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Cardiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

PMID: 29108613
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2017.07.008

Abstract

The obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is associated with significant morbidity and increased mortality compared with simple obesity and eucapnic obstructive sleep apnea. Accurate diagnosis and commencement of early and appropriate management is fundamental in reducing the significant personal and societal burdens this disorder poses. Sleep disordered breathing is a major contributor to the developmental of sleep and awake hypercapnia, which characterizes OHS, and is effectively addressed through the use of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. This article reviews the current evidence supporting different modes of PAP currently used in managing these individuals.

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure; Hypercapnia; Nocturnal hypoventilation; Obesity hypoventilation syndrome; Sleep disordered breathing.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / prevention & control
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome / therapy*
Positive-Pressure Respiration / methods*