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Sleep Apnea and Sleepiness

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Sleepiness and Human Impact Assessment

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Abstract

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is often observed in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), although many subjects do not report the symptom. EDS is associated with increased healthcare utilization and could be one of the main determinants of an increased accident risk. Its possible role as a marker of cardiometabolic risk is debated. The pathogenetic mechanisms of EDS include sleep fragmentation, nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia, increased respiratory efforts, altered sympathovagal balance, depression, inflammatory, and metabolic alterations. Subjective EDS is uncommon when OSA is diagnosed after stroke or cardiac failure, and is a more prominent symptom in young than in elderly people. Insomnia, instead of EDS, may occur in OSA, particularly among women and in subjects with mild nocturnal respiratory disorders. OSA treatment usually greatly improves EDS, but it may not be effective in about 6 % subjects.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM) – National Research Council, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy

    Oreste Marrone

  2. DIBINEM University of Bologna, AOU di Bologna Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi UO Neurologia, via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    Fabio Cirignotta

Authors
  1. Oreste Marrone
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  2. Fabio Cirignotta
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Correspondence to Oreste Marrone .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience,Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology,Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Centre of Sleep Medicine, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy

    Sergio Garbarino

  2. Department of Neurosciences, Centre of Sleep Medicine, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy

    Lino Nobili

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Giovanni Costa

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Marrone, O., Cirignotta, F. (2014). Sleep Apnea and Sleepiness. In: Garbarino, S., Nobili, L., Costa, G. (eds) Sleepiness and Human Impact Assessment. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5388-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5388-5_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-5387-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-5388-5

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