What are the key diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults, and how should I assess its severity?

The key diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults include a history of symptoms such as snoring, witnessed apnoeas, unrefreshing sleep, waking headaches, unexplained excessive sleepiness, tiredness or fatigue, nocturia, choking during sleep, sleep fragmentation or insomnia, and cognitive dysfunction or memory impairment ¹.

Diagnosis is confirmed through sleep studies, with respiratory polygraphy or polysomnography used to diagnose OSAHS and determine its severity as mild, moderate, or severe based on the results of the sleep study ¹.

Severity assessment involves analyzing the sleep study results, which quantify the number and duration of apnoeic and hypopnoeic episodes, as well as oxygen saturation levels ¹.