Is It OSA or Depression or Both

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and depression are common illnesses that frequently coexist in the same patient. Both can also be associated with several chronic, severe medical conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The symptoms of OSA and depression often overlap leading to frequent underdiagnosis of OSA patients who present to psychiatric clinics with symptoms of depression. Undiagnosed OSA in patients with depression can lead to poor outcomes and treatment failures. Clinicians need to be aware of the relationship between these two conditions since increased diagnostic accuracy can produce better outcomes for both conditions.