Obstructive sleep apnea predicts adverse perioperative outcome: Evidence for an association between obstructive sleep apnea and delirium

摘要

OBSTRUCTIVE sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder affecting up to 25% of the general population depending on sex, age, and definition; its incidence is even higher (up to 80%) in obese patients. It is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, myocar-dial infarction, and stroke. In this issue of Anesthesiology, Flink et al. report in a prospective observational study that OSA is associated with postoperative delirium (POD), a novel finding. If confirmed in subsequent studies, this association may have major implications for anesthesiology and critical care medicine.