Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [La sindrome delle apnee ostruttive durante il sonno]

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep breathing disorder of considerable epidemiological impact and a well-documented risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, because of the close relationship with hypertension, endocrine and glyco-lipid metabolism impairments, thrombophilic state and systemic inflammation, as well as with obesity: between 40 and 60% of obese subjects have a sleep breathing disorder while about 70% of patients with OSAS are obese. This work, after pointing out the features of OSAS as a systemic disease, examines the key points of the optimal diagnosis and treatment of this sleep breathing disorder. Aiming to a desirable "personalization" of the treatment, different therapeutic instruments are available, ranging from behavioral measures, to orthodontic and ventilatory devices or surgical treatments. Anyway control of body weight is crucial for the otpimal treatment of an OSAS patient.