Table.

Recent developments in obstructive sleep apnoea

	Where next?
Epidemiology
New data suggest that moderate-to-severe OSA is highly prevalent if rigorous methods are used in diagnostic approaches	OSA might represent a range of disease rather than a definable cutoff; public health measures might be needed to increase awareness and to tackle the burden of disease
Pathogenesis
Non-anatomical traits are important in some patients	Personalised treatment
Diagnostics
Shift from laboratory-based testing to home sleep testing Ability to measure some physiological traits from clinical polysomnograms	Patient initiated testing (ie, smartphone applications) Ability to measure traits from home studies
Outcomes
Recognition that different sequelae of OSA are important for different outcomes—eg, arousal from sleep affects memory consolidation and 4% oxygen desaturation predicts hypertension Treatment of OSA in various patient populations—eg, elderly patients have subjective benefit from PAP	Personalised risk profile Continued understanding of OSA treatment in different patient groups, and specific strategies to improve adherence
Treatments
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation PAP is superior to oxygen therapy for blood pressure reduction Substantial reductions in blood pressure with medical weight loss	Define the role of novel devices Comparative efficacy research Optimise strategies for medical and surgical weight loss and weight maintenance

OSA=obstructive sleep apnoea. PAP=positive airway pressure.