Obstructive sleep apnea in neurological patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that is common among neurological patients. If undiagnosed and untreated, it may lead to hypertension, coronary heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, and, ultimately, death. One of the first steps in identifying OSA is to recognize its signs and symptoms. Nursing knowledge of OSA facilitates referral, diagnosis, and treatment of this potentially life-threatening condition.