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. 2009 Apr;4(2):41-9.
doi: 10.4103/1817-1737.49411.

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome

Laila Al Dabal  1 , Ahmed S Bahammam
Affiliations

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome

Laila Al Dabal et al. Ann Thorac Med. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Obesity is becoming a major medical concern in several parts of the world, with huge economic impacts on health- care systems, resulting mainly from increased cardiovascular risks. At the same time, obesity leads to a number of sleep-disordered breathing patterns like obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), leading to increased morbidity and mortality with reduced quality of life. OHS is distinct from other sleep- related breathing disorders although overlap may exist. OHS patients may have obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea with hypercapnia and sleep hypoventilation, or an isolated sleep hypoventilation. Despite its major impact on health, this disorder is under-recognized and under-diagnosed. Available management options include aggressive weight reduction, oxygen therapy and using positive airway pressure techniques. In this review, we will go over the epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation and diagnosis and management of OHS.

Keywords: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome; positive pressure ventilation; sleep-disordered breathing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A simplified algorithm for the pathophysiology of obesity hypoventilation syndrome. OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea; OHS: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Figure 2
Figure 2
Therapeutic algorithm for positive airway pressure use in obesity hypoventilation syndrome patients. CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure; PAP: Positive airway pressure; IPAP: Inspiratory positive airway pressure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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