Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Recognise sleep-disordered breathing, assess functional risk and support treatment adherence.
Quick revision ↓ Medical Dictionary
01Beyond snoring
Ask about witnessed pauses, choking or gasping at night, unrefreshing sleep, morning headache and daytime sleepiness. Snoring alone does not establish obstructive sleep apnoea, and not every patient describes marked sleepiness. Consider body habitus, nasal obstruction, alcohol, sedating medicines and relevant comorbidities. A bed partner’s observations can be useful with the patient’s agreement.
02Assess the consequences
Sleep-disordered breathing can affect concentration, cardiovascular health and safety-sensitive work. Ask specifically about sleepiness while driving or operating machinery. Advise avoidance of unsafe driving and follow the applicable local reporting rules. Screening questionnaires help identify risk but do not replace an appropriate sleep study when diagnostic assessment is needed.
03Diagnostic pathway
Specialist assessment selects home respiratory testing or other sleep studies according to the presentation and service. Interpret results with symptoms and comorbidities. A limited or technically inadequate study may need follow-up if suspicion remains. Do not rule out clinically important disease solely because the patient is not obese or an initial screening score is low.
04Treatment options
Management may include weight support where relevant, reducing alcohol near sleep, medicine review and positive airway pressure. Oral appliances or surgery suit selected patients after assessment. Treatment choice depends on severity, symptoms, anatomy and preference. CPAP requires mask fitting, education and follow-up; a prescription without support may not achieve useful nightly treatment.
05Children and perioperative care
Children may present with disturbed sleep, mouth breathing, behavioural concerns or growth difficulties as well as snoring. Adenotonsillar enlargement can contribute and needs a paediatric pathway. Adults and children with known or suspected sleep apnoea need appropriate perioperative planning because sedatives and analgesics can affect breathing. Treatment response should be reviewed rather than assumed after an intervention.
High-Yield Revision
- Snoring alone is not a diagnosis of sleep apnoea.
- Ask about driving and occupational sleepiness.
- CPAP and other treatments require follow-up and support.
Common Pitfalls
- Excluding disease solely because the patient is not obese.
- Assuming surgery always removes the need for reassessment.
References & Further Reading
Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.
Reference review: 28 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.