Does episodic hypoxia affect upper airway dilator muscle function? Implications for the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea

Our observations lead us to speculate that episodic hypoxia - a consequence of periodic airway occlusion - is responsible for progression of OSA through impairment of the neural control systems that regulate upper airway patency and through altered respiratory muscle contractile function, leading to the establishment of a vicious cycle of further airway obstruction and hypoxic insult that chronically exacerbates and perpetuates the condition. We conclude that chronic intermittent hypoxia/asphyxia contributes to the pathophysiology of sleep-disordered breathing.