ABSTRACT
The first paper of this issue of Sleep and Breathing reports that the quality of life (QOL) assessed by the SF-36 and the Epworth Sleepiness
Scale (ESS) in obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) was compared with age- and body
mass index-matched patients without hypoventilation (obese OSA), nonobese OSA patients,
and healthy subjects. The QOL in OHS was worst among these four groups. After 3 to
6 months of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, the QOL in
OHS improved to the normal level similar to the two other OSA groups. We have observed
severe nonobese OSA patients with hypoventilation. One of the risk factors, which
related to a severe general condition, seems to be a small craniomandibular structure,
which could induce an increase in upper airway resistance during sleep. Characteristics
of Japanese OSA patients may be different from those in other countries. Although
belatedly, the clinical study and management of sleep disordered breathing have just
begun.
KEYWORDS
Sleep apnea - hypercapnia - excessive daytime sleepiness
