The results of the first study indicated that the patient had severe, obstructive apnea, and hypopnea syndrome. His sleep efficiency was poor, and his sleep latency period was too long. The patient had only 1 obstructive apnea event and 37 episodes of hypopnea. No snoring was observed. It is defined as a blockage of airflow for more than 10 seconds.
Some persons have a combination called mixed sleep apnea.
The OSA syndrome, first described by Gastaut in 1966, is the most common form of apnea and is caused by a blockage of the airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respiration. Sleep apnea is extremely common and affects more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both genders, but it is most common in males and African-Americans. As people age, they commonly gain more weight, which causes the upper airway tissues to sag and become more collapsible.