Sleep apnea requires monitoring after bariatric surgery
Tue. Aug 19, 2008
Although weight loss resulting from bariatric surgery improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the degree of improvement is more closely related to the severity of the condition before surgery than an individual's initial weight and subsequent weight loss.
OSA is common among obese individuals and its severity usually increases with the individual's weight. However, losing weight does not automatically resolve OSA, especially in severe cases, say researchers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
In post surgical follow up studies of a small group of bariatric patients, many still had moderate to severe OSA one year after surgery. Surprisingly, even though their condition remained severe, most people thought they had improved to the point that they could discontinue treatment.
According to Christopher J. Lettieri, MD, Chief of Sleep Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, people should not assume that their OSA will automatically resolve after weight loss. The baseline apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a measure used to identify the presence of OSA and define its severity, is the most important determinant of whether or not an individual will be cured of the disease. Individuals with a lower AHI may experience complete resolution of their OSA.
While many individuals can expect to experience improvement in symptoms of OSA, assessment of the severity of OSA should continue after surgery so that adjustments in treatment match more precise medical measurement of the condition instead of subjective improvements in symptoms such as snoring or daytime sleepiness.
SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
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