The upper airway in obstructive sleep apnoea: state of the art.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative state-of-the-art review without systematic search methodology or original clinical data.
PubMed 42342267 · doi:10.1183/16000617.0005-2026
What was done
This state-of-the-art narrative review synthesized current literature on the anatomy and pathophysiology of upper airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), focusing on underlying physiological endotypes (pharyngeal collapsibility, upper airway muscle responsiveness, ventilatory control/loop gain, and arousal threshold).
What was found
The abstract presents no quantitative data or specific numerical results. It outlines that OSA pathogenesis is heterogeneous and driven by distinct anatomical and non-anatomical physiological mechanisms that vary significantly among patients, which may inform personalized therapeutic approaches.
Why it matters
It highlights that effective OSA management requires looking beyond simple anatomical narrowing to address individualized non-anatomical pathophysiological traits (endotyping).
Limits
The paper is a qualitative narrative review rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis; no search strategy, study selection criteria, sample sizes, or quantitative effect sizes are provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Sleep apnea is caused by a closure in the throat obstructing the trachea, which prompts awakening and breathing sounds.