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Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Pain

  • Sleep and Pain (L Ferini-Strambi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Sleep Medicine Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and pain are bi-directionally related. Sleep fragmentation and nocturnal hypoxia can worsen pain symptoms, whereas individuals suffering from chronic pain often have sleep deprivation and suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. The purpose of this review is to present recent data on the interactions between OSA and pain.

Recent Findings

OSA is highly prevalent among patients with chronic pain disorders especially in those who receive opioid-analgesics. Conversely, sleep fragmentation and untreated OSA could lead to worse pain outcomes. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may decrease pain intensity, increase pain thresholds, and result in less opioid use.

Summary

Clinicians should be aware of the mutual association between pain and OSA, when assessing chronic pain patients in order to identify early and manage OSA leading ultimately to better pain outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Konstantina Nikolaou, Athanasios Voulgaris & Paschalis Steiropoulos

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  1. Konstantina Nikolaou
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  2. Athanasios Voulgaris
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  3. Paschalis Steiropoulos
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Correspondence to Paschalis Steiropoulos.

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Konstantina Nikolaou, Athanasios Voulgaris, and Paschalis Steiropoulos each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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Nikolaou, K., Voulgaris, A. & Steiropoulos, P. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Pain. Curr Sleep Medicine Rep 5, 95–103 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-019-00143-0

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