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Sleep Apnea Exacerbation

Meaning

Sleep Apnea Exacerbation describes the clinical phenomenon where the severity, frequency, or duration of apneic and hypopneic events significantly worsens in an individual already suffering from or predisposed to sleep apnea. This deterioration leads to more profound nocturnal hypoxemia and greater sleep fragmentation, which increases the risk of cardiovascular events and neurocognitive impairment. Exacerbation can be triggered or worsened by specific physiological changes, including those induced by weight gain or alterations in muscle tone resulting from certain hormonal therapies.