What is the Difference Between Obstructive and Central Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) are two main types of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. The key differences between these two types of sleep apnea are:

Cause: OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway, while CSA happens because the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Prevalence: OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea, while CSA is less common.
Symptoms: Both types of sleep apnea can lead to similar symptoms, such as episodes of paused breathing during sleep, and can affect a person's sleep quality.
Risk Factors: OSA is often associated with being overweight, having a narrow airway, or having a family history of the condition. CSA, on the other hand, is typically associated with other illnesses or diseases that affect the central nervous system.
Treatment: The treatment for OSA often involves the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help keep the airways open. CSA may require different treatment options, such as adjusting medications or addressing underlying medical conditions.

In some cases, people with obstructive sleep apnea may develop central sleep apnea while using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, a condition known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

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What is the Difference Between Obstructive and Central Sleep Apnea?

Comparative Table: Obstructive vs Central Sleep Apnea

Here is a table comparing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA):

Feature	Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)	Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
Definition	OSA is a sleep disorder characterized by the intermittent reduction or cessation of respiratory airflow during sleep due to a physical dysfunction, such as a narrow or blocked airway.	CSA is a sleep disorder that affects your breathing pattern while you sleep, occurring when there is a disturbance in your central nervous system.
Cause	OSA is caused by a physical obstruction in the airway, such as a narrow or blocked airway.	CSA is caused by a lack of brain signal from the central nervous system to the diaphragm to breathe.
Prevalence	OSA is more common, affecting around 30 million US adults.	CSA is less common than OSA.
Symptoms	Both types share symptoms such as snoring, difficulty breathing during sleep, and daytime sleepiness.
Diagnosis	The severity of sleep apnea is commonly measured via the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which shows the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep. Apnea is defined as a cessation of inspiratory airflow lasting ≥10 seconds, while hypopnea is defined as a 30% reduction in amplitude lasting ≥10 seconds, with at least a 4% decrease in saturation.
Treatment	Both types of sleep apnea are treatable, with effective sleep apnea treatment options available.

Despite sharing some similar symptoms, OSA and CSA have distinct causes and treatments. It is essential to differentiate between these two types of sleep apnea to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.