diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Last reviewed 05/2023

diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) diagnostic criteria of OSAS are as follows:

A. At least one of the following applies:

1. the patient complies of unintentional sleep episodes during wakefulness, daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, fatigue or insomnia;
2. the patient wakes up with breath holding, gasping or chocking; or
3. the bed partner reports loud snoring, breathing interruptions or both during the patient's sleep

B. Polysomnographic recording shows the following:

1. Five or more scoreable respiratory events (i.e. apnoea, hypopnoea or RERA) per hour of sleep;
2. Evidence of respiratory effort during all or a portion of each sleep event

OR.

C. Polysomnographic recording shows the following:

1. >=15 or scoreable respiratory events (i.e. apnoea, hypopnoea or espiratory effort related arousals RERA) per hour of sleep:
2. Evidence of respiratory effort during all or a portion of each sleep event

D. The disorder is not explained by another current sleep disorder, medical or neurological disorder, medication use or a substance abuse disorder:

For obstructive sleep apnoea diagnosis A, B and D or C and D must be fulfilled (1)

Reference:

• (1) Parati G et al. Recommendations for the management of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension. Eur Respir J. 2013;41(3):523-38