Residual excessive daytime sleepiness in patients treated for obstructive sleep apnea: guidance for assessment, diagnosis, and management

Abstract

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) affects approximately half of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and can persist in some despite normalization of breathing, oxygenation, and sleep quality with primary OSA therapy, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). EDS is often overlooked and under discussed in the primary care setting and in the follow-up of CPAP-treated patients due to difficult assessment of such a multi-dimensional symptom. This review aims to provide suggestions for procedures that can be implemented into routine clinical practice to identify, evaluate, and manage EDS in patients treated for OSA, including how to appropriately use various self-report and objective assessments along the clinical pathway and options for pharmacotherapy. In addition, examples of when it is appropriate to refer a patient to a sleep specialist for evaluation are discussed.