Sleep Europe 2024 | Differentiating obstructive and central sleep apnea via polysomnography

Winfried Randerath, MD, FCCP, Centre of Sleep Medicine and Respiratory Care, Bethanien Hospital, University of Cologne, Solingen, Germany, explores the key diagnostic tools for differentiating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA), focusing on polysomnography (PSG). Whilst both conditions exhibit reduced or absent breathing through the nose or mouth, they differ in thoracic and abdominal muscle activity. In OSA, muscle activity persists as the body fights against upper airway closure, while in CSA, there is no respiratory effort due to a lack of impulses from thoracic or abdominal muscles, making PSG essential in distinguishing between the two conditions. This interview took place at the Sleep Europe 2024 congress in Seville, Spain.

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