Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome and obesity hyperventilation syndrome in over 16s: summary of NICE guidance.

### What you need to know Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) affects around 5% of adults in the UK, while obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is estimated to affect 0.3-0.4% of the general population.1 In addition to sleepiness, OSAHS may present with a range of symptoms including insomnia and difficulties concentrating, and it can lead to hypertension and exacerbate pre-existing cardiovascular disease. People with OHS are at higher risk of cardiovascular complications and have higher mortality compared with non-obese people.2 This article summarises the most recent recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline for obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome and obesity hypoventilation syndrome in adults (over 16 years old).3 The guideline, published in August 2021, covers diagnosis and management of OSAHS, OHS, and COPD-OSAHS overlap syndrome. This guideline summary discusses only selected recommendations on OSAHS and OHS, focusing on those most relevant to primary care. NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of best available evidence and explicit consideration of cost effectiveness. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the guideline committee’s experience and opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in square brackets. ### Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) In this condition the upper airway is narrowed or closes during sleep when muscles relax, causing under-breathing (hypopnoea) or stopping breathing …