Understanding Non-Anatomical Factors in OSA

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Danny J. Eckert, a sleep and respiratory physiologist and professor at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Dr. Eckert is a leading expert in his field and the recipient of the 2023 European Respiratory Society Gold Medal in Sleep-Disordered Breathing. As the Director of the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, he discusses his groundbreaking work on OSA endotyping and the PALM classification system (Pcrit, Arousal threshold, Loop gain, and Muscle recovery).

Discover why 70% of OSA patients have non-anatomical causes and how understanding these distinct endotypes can revolutionize treatment approaches. The conversation delves into practical applications for clinical settings, examining the roles of obesity and nasal obstruction in sleep apnea while discussing targeted therapeutic strategies, including GABAergic medications.