Overview
Primary central sleep apnea (CSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of absent or reduced breathing during sleep due to a lack of respiratory effort 1. This leads to intermittent hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation 1.Diagnosis
Diagnosis is typically made via polysomnography (PSG) 1.
PSG demonstrates absent or reduced respiratory effort during central apneas 1.
Central apneas are defined as a cessation of airflow for at least 10 seconds with no associated respiratory effort 1.Management
Treatment recommendations for central disorders of hypersomnolence, including CSA, are based on a systematic review of the literature and the GRADE process 1.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) provides recommendations for treatment selection 1.Key Recommendations
We recommend treatment for central disorders of hypersomnolence in adults and children 1. (Evidence: Strong)
We recommend treatment for central disorders of hypersomnolence in adults and children 1. (Evidence: Strong)References
1 Maski K, Trotti LM, Kotagal S, Robert Auger R, Rowley JA, Hashmi SD et al.. Treatment of central disorders of hypersomnolence: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2021. link