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Thorax 2008;63:738-746 doi:10.1136/thx.2007.086843
  • Review series

Obesity and the lung: 2 · Obesity and sleep-disordered breathing

  1. F Crummy1,
  2. A J Piper2,
  3. M T Naughton3
  1. 1
    Regional Respiratory Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK
  2. 2
    Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. 3
    General Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  1. Dr F Crummy, Regional Respiratory Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK; fcrummy{at}doctors.org.uk
  • Received 9 November 2007
  • Accepted 21 February 2008

Abstract

As the prevalence of obesity increases in both the developed and the developing world, the respiratory consequences are often underappreciated. This review discusses the presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of the obstructive sleep apnoea, overlap and obesity hypoventilation syndromes. Patients with these conditions will commonly present to respiratory physicians, and recognition and effective treatment have important benefits in terms of patient quality of life and reduction in healthcare utilisation. Measures to curb the obesity epidemic are urgently required.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

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