Sleep Apnea and increased risk of death (continued)

Several other points need to be made in relation to this study:

• The increased risk of death that was associated with severe sleep apnea was reduced when patients were treated with CPAP
• Milder forms of sleep apnea did not seem to increase the risk of death
• CPAP improved the symptoms of sleep apnea and may reduce the risk in severe case

Dr. Terry Young talks about the study:


Two points become very clear as a result of this study:

First - if you snore heavily and have stopped breathing during sleep, get evaluated for sleep apnea. I know I've said this before but it's worth repeating!

Second, if you are a dentist, whether you choose to work with colleagues to manage patients with sleep apnea or not, it is your obligation to screen all patients that you treat for sleep apnea. You screen now, or if not should screen, for oral cancer and high blood pressure and you encourage smoking cessation - add one minute to your examination and ask 4 short questions:

1. Do you snore loudly?
2. Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the daytime?
3. Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
4. Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?

(The STOP Questionnaire, Frances Chung)

Dr. Barsh