Summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a complex disease that is characterized by the collapse of the pharyngeal airway, resulting in recurrent episodes of airway closure, oxygen desaturation, and disrupted sleep. In recent studies, researchers have sought to define multiple phenotypes on the basis of local and distant anatomy, sleep breathing and arousal patterns, and response to treatment. In this article, experts in sleep-disordered breathing discussed the spectrum of OSA phenotypes and their implications for therapy.