Welcome Message
The focus of this week’s ‘Lung disease week at the ATS’ will be Sleep disorders, specifically Obesity Hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). It is our pleasure to be partnering with ATS PAR member organization Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners on this venture.
OHS is a condition with the highest morbidity and mortality among Sleep disorders. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting a prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) among adults of 39.8% and severe or morbid obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) of 7.6%, along with trends that show a continued rise, the prevalence of OHS is expected to increase. Early recognition and initiation of positive air pressure therapy along with weight loss could prevent the development of respiratory failure and mitigate the cardiovascular morbidity seen in this population.
ATS continues in its commitment to enhance education, fund research and promote best practices with its clinical practice guidelines on OHS and approach to weight management – all documents easily accessible on the website. Additional ATS statements on Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Sleep/Wake health are also available. Together with the Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners, ATS is committed to raising awareness regarding OHS and its effective management.
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Bela Patel, MD |
Reeba Mathew, MD |
Kathy Page |
ASAP (Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners) brings together patients, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare providers who work to improve the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. It is the mission of ASAP to educate patients and the public about sleep apnea and the potential risks if left untreated. By providing a library of resources that includes educational materials, current research, supporting organizations, treatment options, sleep tools and products, ASAP can help enable patients to become advocates for their own healthcare.
