A prospective multicentric study ("SASOM" for "Syndrome d'Apnées du Sommeil") was carried out from 1996 to 1998 among pulmonary departments of 57 French general Hospitals, about diagnostic, treatment and outcome of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). All successive adult patients diagnosed by polygraphic recording as having OSAS were included. Mean characteristics of the 1720 patients (1455 M, 245 W) were as follows: age 58 years, BMI 34, FEVI 86%, VC 88%, PO2 77 mmHg, PCO(2) 42 mmHg, AHI 46. Other determined values were: clinical signs, systemic hypertension, treatment, follow-up during 18 months. Main results were: - there was a strong correlation between clinical signs and AHI, - 70% of the patients (n=1227) were treated with CPAP; among them, withdrawals were 7% at 6 months, 15% at 1 year, 20% at 18 months, 24% at 2 years, - among patients whose AHI was<30, and who were treated, withdrawals were 33% at 18 months, - there was non difference of diagnostic, treatment and follow-up according to the modalities of the diagnostic (ventilation polygraphy of full polysomnography).
Conclusion: Among a large population of 1720 OSAS without any selection in this multicentric study: - clinical signs are correlated with AHI, - a full polysomnography is not required of the initial diagnosis, - among the less severe patients who are treated by CPAP, the compliance is quite good at 18 months.