Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea

Emerging evidence suggests that comorbid insomnia has a negative impact on the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly with adherence to positive airway pressure therapy. Furthermore, the two conditions together are associated with greater morbidity of psychiatric, medical, and other sleep disorders. In discussing the clinical implications of such evidence, sleep clinicians should conduct comprehensive evaluations for both OSA and insomnia. Moreover, patient management should include considerations to treating both OSA and insomnia. Future research should include studies aimed at understanding the pathophysiology of the comorbid condition, improving diagnostic tools and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment combinations.