Risk Factors for Development of EDS in Patients With OSA

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While classic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk factors remain relevant—advancing age, male gender, obesity, thick neck circumference, and smoking history—contemporary clinical practice demands a broader perspective. The traditional "truck driver" stereotype, though statistically accurate for high-risk populations, can create diagnostic blind spots for atypical presentations. Health care providers must balance recognition of established risk patterns with awareness that OSA can affect younger adults, women, and individuals with normal body weight.

Modern referral patterns reflect evolving understanding of OSA's systemic health impacts. Primary care physicians, cardiologists, and psychiatrists increasingly recognize connections between untreated sleep apnea and conditions like hypertension, atrial fibrillation, depression, and metabolic disorders. This has led to more proactive screening and referrals for sleep evaluation, particularly as home sleep testing has made diagnosis more accessible and convenient for patients.

The critical clinical insight is that sleepiness assessment should function as a vital sign, comparable in importance to temperature or blood pressure measurement. Many patients fail to recognize the severity of their sleepiness or rationalize it as normal fatigue associated with aging, work demands, or life circumstances. Systematic questioning about sleep quality, daytime alertness, and functional impairment should be routine in all health care encounters, regardless of the patient's apparent risk profile or chief complaint.