Most sleep apnea cases misdiagnosed as thyroid, hypertension and depression: Experts

Due to lack of awareness among physicians, ENT specialists say sleep apnea is misdiagnosed in 90% of cases..

By: Anuradha Varanasi | | Updated: April 3, 2016 4:32 pm

Tags: Obstructive sleep apnoea Sleep apnea

While the prevalence rate of sleep apnea in India is as high as 2-4% of the general population, ENT experts say that there still needs to be adequate awareness about this disease among general practitioners and physicians. Almost 90% of sleep apnea cases are misdiagnosed by general physicians and the patient continues suffering because of that, says Dr Vikas Agarwal, President, The Indian Association of Surgeons for Sleep Apnoea (IASSA). Also Read - Children who snore frequently may develop behavioural problems: The reason explained

Also Read - World Sleep Day: New non-contact techniques to diagnose sleep apnea during Covid-19

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes erratic breathing while sleeping due to which the patient s oxygen level in the blood drops. Living with this condition can severely impact one s quality of life due to feelings of constant tiredness and drowsiness during the day due to disturbed sleeping patterns. Sleep apnea patients are usually obese and are actually also at a higher risk of suffering from heart problems like hypertension, cardiac failure, strokes and other such complications. These are the 7 signs and symptoms of sleep apnea you should know about. Also Read - Sleep apnea could be linked to memory issues: Beware of these warning signs

If diagnosed, sleep apnea is either treated using a nasal mask known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which treats OSA by applying airway pressure through the mask. This helps in opening the upper airway throughout the breathing cycle. In more advanced cases where the patient isn t responding to CPAP, he will need to undergo surgery. Most people don t realize that snoring and poor quality of sleep could actually be sleep apnea. Incorrect diagnosis is a major concern because patients suffering from these symptoms normally visit their family doctor. At this stage, it is critical that they are diagnosed properly, however that rarely happens, says Dr Agarwal. In fact, ENT experts estimate that 18% of snorers have nasal problems like nasal obstruction that needs to be treated.

He adds that misdiagnosis usually includes thyroid problems, hypertension and even depression and anxiety. The patient is sometimes even put on anti-depressants or told they have a heart condition. This is because sleep apnea is still a new subject and not many physicians are aware of it, adds Dr Agarwal. Experts say that the patient s weight and even facial structure and profile tends to make them more prone to suffering from sleep apnea.

The IASSA recently held a three days long national conference for sleep apnea in Mumbai that was attended by over 300 ENT specialists in order to discuss the surgical guidelines for treating sleep apnea. Other than this, the IASSA is also conducting a nationwide study on how sleep apnea patients are responding to surgical intervention using the plasma blade procedure. In this surgery, the tonsils are repositioned, which widens the throat and reduces the symptoms and complications caused by sleep apnea. Read: Feeling blue? You could be suffering from sleep apnea.

Dr P Vijaya Krishnan, Secretary, IASSA, says, ‘Despite the high prevalence of sleep related disorders in India, the accessibility of diagnosis and treatment is not enough. However, the scenario is slowly changing with the help of cheaper diagnostic and surgical options for treating OSA. Dynamic Sleep MRI and Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) is one such example of diagnostic tool which helps in identifying the obstruction in the airway and improve patient management.’

Other than these issues regarding the treatment of sleep apnea in Mumbai, Dr Hetal Marfatia, head of the ENT Department in civic-run KEM Hospital in Mumbai says sleep apnea requires a comprehensive approach and management by doctors. ‘After being diagnosed, the patient needs to be counselled to lose weight as most sleep apnea patients are also obese. Along with CPAP or when required, surgery, diet and nutrition also play in important role in controlling the symptoms.’

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Published : April 3, 2016 4:06 pm | Updated:April 3, 2016 4:32 pm

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