Sleep and breathing disorders: a multidisciplinary approach.

Sleep-related respiratory disorders are highly prevalent, and represent a growing subspecialty of respiratory medicine. Sleep apnoea is nearly as prevalent in the general population as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [1, 2], and the comprehensive management of the disorder requires special knowledge and expertise. Since sleep apnoea also represents the most common organic cause of excessive daytime sleepiness presenting to sleep clinics, the topic is also of important clinical relevance to sleep specialists in general. Furthermore, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is an important independent contributor to several comorbidities, including cardiovascular disorders [3], particularly hypertension (which occurs in ,50% of patients with OSAS [4]), in addition to metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus [5], but also cerebrovascular diseases, particularly stroke [6]. The high prevalence of OSAS represents a challenge to clinical services in the diagnosis and management of the disorder, and there is now increasing emphasis on ambulatory management [7].