Title:Overlap Syndrome of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Two-Faced Janus
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Alexander G. Mathioudakis, Victoria Sircu and Nikolaos Siafakas
Affiliation:Department of Respiratory Medicine, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Keywords:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, OLDOSA, overlap syndrome.
Abstract:Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD) are common respiratory diseases, associated with significant morbidity, worldwide. They
frequently co-exist and the overlap syndrome is associated with greater hypoxia and hypercapnia in
comparison with COPD or OSAS alone. Unfortunately, the overlap syndrome is still underdiagnosed
and undertreated in clinical practice, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this review is to present
why OSAS is more prevalent among COPD patients, how to differentiate between the common sleep alteration in COPD
and the overlap syndrome, the current screening, diagnostic and therapeutic approach of the overlap syndrome.
