Highlights & Basics
- Snoring can be simple in nature or a symptom of sleep-disordered breathing secondary to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS).
- Can be a significant problem for patients and any bed partners.
- Diagnosis is guided by clinical suspicion of the underlying cause. Nasendoscopy can help localize the origin site of snoring. Polysomnography remains the definitive method for diagnosing OSA.
- Management depends on the underlying cause. Options include lifestyle measures, treatments for nasal obstruction, oral appliance therapy, palatal implants and surgery, and continuous positive airway pressure.
- Childhood snoring is most commonly due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy and usually resolves with age. Adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy or a combined procedure may be indicated in some cases. Children with OSA or UARS should be referred to a specialist.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
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Citations
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM international classification of sleep disorders - third edition, text revision (ICSD-3-TR). Jun 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Fairbanks DNF, Mickelson SA, Woodson BT, eds. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2003.
Ramar K, Dort LC, Katz SG, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring with oral appliance therapy: an update for 2015. J Clin Sleep Med. 2015 Jul 15;11(7):773-827.[Abstract][Full Text]
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