Obstructive sleep apnoea

In obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep so that part of the airway is closed off. This causes the person to stop breathing, then partially wake before starting breathing again. This cycle can occur hundreds of times during sleep, reducing the quality and benefits of a good night’s sleep.

People with OSA experience snoring, daytime sleepiness, altered mood and morning headaches, which in turn can result in poor work performance, and work and motor vehicle accidents.

There is also an increased risk of cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), vascular diseases and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

For children, untreated OSA can also affect cardiovascular health and impair their development, behaviour and learning.

OSA is considered a contributor to overall health loss and a risk factor for other life-limiting conditions (coronary heart disease, ischaemic stroke, type 2 diabetes).

OSA can occur at any age, and is more common if a person is overweight, sleeps on their back, uses alcohol or sleeping tablets before going to sleep, or has nasal obstruction or a narrow upper airway (e.g. enlarged tonsils or differences in face or jaw shape).

In New Zealand, OSA is estimated to affect 3−5% of children and is one of the most common respiratory disorders of childhood.

A minimum of 4% of adult males and 2% of adult females experience OSA, though most cases are undiagnosed.

OSA rates are higher among Māori and Pacific people. OSA is twice as common in Māori males compared to non-Māori males.

Māori and Pacific people tend to have more severe OSA and more comorbidities, and there are ethnic disparities in the ongoing use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

In children, OSA can be treated effectively with an operation to remove the adenoids and tonsils.

In adults, mild OSA can often be managed with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise.

People with moderate to severe disease will usually need treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. CPAP provides air pressure through a mask, which is worn during sleep. This works well in 70% of cases, so it is important that other treatment options are available for those who can’t use CPAP.

Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important for OSA, as obesity can have serious effects on the lungs and breathing.

Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important for OSA, as obesity can have serious effects on the lungs and breathing.

New Zealand consistently ranks among the most obese nations in the world, with the third-highest adult obesity rate in the OECD. For the good of our respiratory and heart health, we need to improve healthy eating and physical activity.