Apnoé

Apnoé, also spelled apnea or apnea (apnée in French), refers to the temporary cessation of breathing. In medical use it most often describes sleep apnea, a disorder marked by recurrent pauses in breathing during sleep that fragment sleep and can lower blood oxygen levels. The term can also describe non-sleep forms of breathing cessation caused by acute events or abnormalities in respiratory control.

There are three main types of sleep-related apnoe: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and mixed apnea. OSA occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. CSA results from the brain failing to send regular breathing signals. Mixed apnea includes elements of both obstructive and central events. Apnoea can vary in frequency and severity, typically quantified by the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) derived from sleep studies.

Risk factors for OSA include excess weight, enlarged tonsils or adenoids in children, anatomical features of the face and throat, age, smoking, alcohol or sedative use, and certain medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Symptoms commonly include loud snoring, observed breathing pauses during sleep, gasping or choking at night, and daytime sleepiness, fatigue, or concentration problems.

Diagnosis is usually made with polysomnography (a sleep study) that measures breathing, oxygen levels, and sleep stages. Severity is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the AHI. Treatment aims to restore regular breathing during sleep and may involve continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel PAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, weight management, positional therapy, or surgical options in selected cases. Effective management reduces cardiovascular risk and improves quality of life. The condition underscores the importance of sleep health and its broader health implications.