Contribution of Obstructive Sleep Apnea to Asthmatic Airway Inflammation and Impact of Its Treatment on the Course of Asthma

Abstract

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are very common respiratory disorders in the general population. Beyond their high prevalence, shared risk factors, and genetic linkages, bidirectional relationships between asthma and OSA exist, each disorder affecting the other's presence and severity. The author reviews here some of the salient links between constituents of the alternative overlap syndrome, that is, OSA comorbid with asthma, with an emphasis on the effects of OSA or its treatment on inflammation in asthma. In the directional relationship from OSA toward asthma, beyond direct influences, multiple factors and comorbidities seem to contribute.

Keywords: Alternative overlap syndrome; Asthma; Inflammation; Obstructive sleep apnea; Positive airway pressure; Sleep apnea.