We are proud to announce the publication of the International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (ICS:OSA), a multi-collaborative effort led by co-editors Jolie Chang, MD, Andrew Goldberg, MD, MS, and Ilene Rosen, MD, MSCE. Drs. Chang and Goldberg are faculty at the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF OHNS) and Dr. Rosen works at the University of Pennsylvania.
The comprehensive document summarizes the best available evidence on focal topics related to adult OSA, highlights current understanding and identifies gaps in knowledge that require further research. This monumental effort involved contributions from over 130 international experts in various specialties, including neurology, pulmonology, sleep medicine, otolaryngology, oral-maxillofacial surgery, dentistry, anesthesiology, psychiatry, cardiology and sleep physiology, which reflects the multidisciplinary approach needed to understand and treat OSA.
"The ICS:OSA brings together diverse expertise to provide a comprehensive resource for understanding and treating OSA, enabling clinicians to make evidence-based decisions for their patients," says Dr. Chang, the lead author and co-editor.
The consensus statement was developed using previously defined methodology, assigning focal topics in OSA to formats such as literature review, evidence-based review or evidence-based review. Each topic incorporated available and relevant evidence, which was then summarized and graded based on study quality. The entire document underwent iterative review, with all authors contributing to the consensus.
"This is a truly landmark consensus statement on obstructive sleep apnea with an international cohort of clinicians from all specialties that evaluate and treat sleep disorders," says Dr. Goldberg, co-author and co-editor of the statement and vice chair of UCSF OHNS.
The ICS:OSA covers a wide range of topics, including OSA syndrome definitions, pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors for the disease, screening methods, diagnostic testing types, multiple treatment modalities and the effects of OSA treatment on various OSA-associated comorbidities. It also provides a specific focus on health outcomes with positive airway pressure and surgical therapies.
"By summarizing the best available evidence and identifying gaps in knowledge, we aim to inspire new research and improve patient care," says Dr. Goldberg. "With an organized and linked table of contents and over 150 short individual sections, the information in this document is highly accessible and easy to digest."
The ICS:OSA is an invaluable resource for clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers working in the field of obstructive sleep apnea, fostering new research and contributing to improved health outcomes. Read the statement here.
