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Clinical Characteristics of Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Asians

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Positional Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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Abstract

Positional obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a type of OSA which is associated with a significant reduction of respiratory events in non-supine position. Current evidence shows that positional OSA is more commonly observed among Asians with reported prevalence up to 74 %. Potential explanations include more craniofacial abnormality observed among Asians in terms of retropalatal obstruction related to craniofacial restriction particularly in the cranial base. This craniofacial abnormality may be modifiable with position change. Furthermore, Asians with OSA were also noted to have lower BMI when compared to Caucasians. Due to high prevalence of positional OSA and differences in OSA risk factors, positional therapy as well as other treatment modalities aiming in repositioning the craniofacial structure may be more beneficial among Asians.

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Acknowledgment

I would like to thank my beloved husband, Pannasan Sombuntham, for his contribution in providing two beautiful illustrations for this chapter. He has always been my true support in every aspect of my life. I love you so much.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Naricha Chirakalwasan M.D.

  2. Excellence Center for Sleep Disorders, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, 1873 King Rama IV Road, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Naricha Chirakalwasan M.D.

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  1. Naricha Chirakalwasan M.D.
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Correspondence to Naricha Chirakalwasan M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Nico de Vries

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Madeline Ravesloot

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Peter van Maanen

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Chirakalwasan, N. (2015). Clinical Characteristics of Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Asians. In: de Vries, N., Ravesloot, M., van Maanen, J. (eds) Positional Therapy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09626-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09626-1_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-09625-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-09626-1

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