Obstructive Sleep Apnea Exacerbation

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem with 212.3 million prevalent cases of COPD worldwide and 3.3 million deaths related to COPD in 2019. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most common sleep disordered breathing. It is estimated that almost 1 billion adults have OSA worldwide. Given the increasing prevalence of obesity, co-morbid OSA is frequently seen in patients with COPD. Co-morbid OSA has been shown to increase mortality, to reduce quality of life and to favour acute exacerbation of COPD. For those admitted for a life-threatening exacerbation of COPD requiring an intensive care admission for acute hypercapnic failure, they are more likely to get readmitted. For those admitted for an acute exacerbation in any ward, they are more likely to be re-admitted for another exacerbation within 180-days if their OSA is not treated. Unfortunately, data regarding the best management of OSA in patients with co-morbid COPD are lacking as they were often excluded from clinical trials involving patients with COPD. Therefore, CPAP or NIV are administered without scientific evidence establishing which treatment is the most appropriate.