Combination of Obstructive and Central Sleep Apnea as a Non-Sleepy Phenotype of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): A Case Report and Literature Review

Co-occurring central sleep apnea (CSA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are a developing apprehension because many patients referred to sleep studies have co-morbidities such as cardiovascular and/or neurological disorders which increase the possibility of central and obstructive episodes. Here, we report a patient without excessive daytime sleepiness and a combination of CSA and OSA.

We present a 16-year-old boy with a history of snoring, poor quality of sleep, nightmare, sleep walking, and sleep talking since he was two-years old. His STOP-Bang score was 7. Standard attended polysomnography (PSG) with audio-video monitoring was performed. The PSG results contained Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI): 30.2 (number of OSAs was 50 and number of CSAs was 49 during sleep). Then, a titration study was performed and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) setting as low as eight cmH2O was effective in eliminating obstructive events, but there was emerging CSAs in favour of Treatment Emergent CSA (TCSA).

This case represents a non-sleepy phenotype of OSA in combination with many CSAs in PSG. We suggest that further studies be performed on the association between the concomitant presence of CSA and OSA among nonsleepy patients with OSA.