Question:medium
Which of the following is NOT true regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Which of the following is NOT true regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Show Hint
The gold-standard diagnostic test for OSA is full-night polysomnography, not oximetry.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Nocturnal asphyxia
- Alcoholism is a cofactor
- Prone to hypertension
- Overnight oximetry is diagnostic and can replace polysomnography
Show Solution
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The question asks which option is false for OSA. OSA results from upper-airway obstruction during sleep, giving apneas, hypopneas, and arousals.
Step 2: Recurrent airway closure produces drops in oxygen, i.e. nocturnal asphyxia, confirming option a. Sedatives and alcohol reduce upper-airway muscle tone and aggravate OSA, validating option b. Intermittent hypoxia activates the sympathetic system and raises blood pressure, validating option c.
Step 3: For diagnosis, the reference standard is attended in-lab polysomnography. Simple overnight pulse oximetry detects desaturations but misses many events and has poor specificity, so it cannot substitute for polysomnography.
Step 4: The incorrect statement is the one claiming oximetry replaces polysomnography.
\[\boxed{\text{Overnight oximetry is diagnostic to replace polysomnography}}\]
Step 2: Recurrent airway closure produces drops in oxygen, i.e. nocturnal asphyxia, confirming option a. Sedatives and alcohol reduce upper-airway muscle tone and aggravate OSA, validating option b. Intermittent hypoxia activates the sympathetic system and raises blood pressure, validating option c.
Step 3: For diagnosis, the reference standard is attended in-lab polysomnography. Simple overnight pulse oximetry detects desaturations but misses many events and has poor specificity, so it cannot substitute for polysomnography.
Step 4: The incorrect statement is the one claiming oximetry replaces polysomnography.
\[\boxed{\text{Overnight oximetry is diagnostic to replace polysomnography}}\]
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