Surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea: changing the upper airway.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by sleep deprivation and daytime fatigue and somnolence. It is conservatively estimated to occur in up to 3% of the adult population. However, the incidence is probably higher in industrialized countries, where sleep patterns are disrupted by abnormal work shifts. The incidence is also slightly higher in middle-aged males and may be as high as 67% in elderly males.