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Quantitative EEG in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a review of the literature

  • Szilvia Puskás ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Norbert Kozák , Dóra Sulina , László Csiba and Mária Tünde Magyar
Published/Copyright: January 18, 2017
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Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by the recurrent cessation (apnea) or reduction (hypopnea) of airflow due to the partial or complete upper airway collapse during sleep. Respiratory disturbances causing sleep fragmentation and repetitive nocturnal hypoxia are responsible for a variety of nocturnal and daytime complaints of sleep apnea patients, such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, or impaired cognitive functions. Different techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and positron emission tomography, are used to evaluate the structural and functional changes in OSAS patients. With quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) analysis, the possible existence of alterations in the brain electrical activity of OSAS patients can be investigated. We review the articles on qEEG results of sleep apnea patients and summarize the possible explanations of these qEEG measures. Finally, we review the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on these alterations to assess whether CPAP use can eliminate alterations in the brain activity of OSAS patients.

Acknowledgments

The preparation of this manuscript was supported by the Hungarian Brain Research Program (Grant No. KTIA_13_NAP-A-II/6). The authors thank Edit Imre Badarné, Katalin Oláh, and Andrea Dobó Pállné for their help in preparing the manuscript.

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Received: 2016-9-29
Accepted: 2016-11-30
Published Online: 2017-1-18
Published in Print: 2017-4-1

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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