From Mayo Clinic: "The CDC statistics are alarming. More than one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese. You likely know that obesity can increase your risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart attack. But you might not know that it also increases your risk of a condition called obesity hypoventilation syndrome, or OHS." If left untreated, OHS can diminish quality of life and even cause heart failure.
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a condition in obese people in which poor breathing leads to lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) exists when an obese individual (body mass index (BMI) greater than 30kg/m2) has awake alveolar hypoventilation (PaCO2 greater 45 mmHg), which cannot be attributed to other conditions such as pulmonary disease, skeletal restriction, neuromuscular weakness, hypothyroidism, or pleural pathology.
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) is a well-known cause of hypoventilation. Abnormal central ventilatory drive and obesity contribute to the development of OHS.
OHS is defined as a combination of:
- obesity
- a body mass index greater than or equal to 30kg/m2 with awake chronic hypercapnia (PaCO2 greater than 45 mm Hg)
- sleep-disordered breathing
Other disorders that may cause hypoventilation should be ruled out first. Approximately 90% of patients with OHS also have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
References:
What Is Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome? - NHLBI, NIH http://buff.ly/1lholgO
Hypoventilation Syndromes - Medscape http://buff.ly/1lhocdk
Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of obesity hypoventilation syndrome - UpToDate http://buff.ly/NtaRjP
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia http://buff.ly/1lho8KH
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a condition in obese people in which poor breathing leads to lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) exists when an obese individual (body mass index (BMI) greater than 30kg/m2) has awake alveolar hypoventilation (PaCO2 greater 45 mmHg), which cannot be attributed to other conditions such as pulmonary disease, skeletal restriction, neuromuscular weakness, hypothyroidism, or pleural pathology.
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) is a well-known cause of hypoventilation. Abnormal central ventilatory drive and obesity contribute to the development of OHS.
OHS is defined as a combination of:
- obesity
- a body mass index greater than or equal to 30kg/m2 with awake chronic hypercapnia (PaCO2 greater than 45 mm Hg)
- sleep-disordered breathing
Other disorders that may cause hypoventilation should be ruled out first. Approximately 90% of patients with OHS also have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
References:
What Is Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome? - NHLBI, NIH http://buff.ly/1lholgO
Hypoventilation Syndromes - Medscape http://buff.ly/1lhocdk
Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of obesity hypoventilation syndrome - UpToDate http://buff.ly/NtaRjP
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia http://buff.ly/1lho8KH