Emerging issues in sleep-disordered breathing.

Community studies of problems with breathing during sleep suggest that sleep-disordered breathing is a better general term than sleep apnoea. Male sex, increasing age and increasing neck size are the main factors differentiating people with from those without sleep-disordered breathing. The contribution of sleep-disordered breathing to morbidity has not been established. Future research should address the possible cardiovascular associations of sleep-disordered breathing, its impact on sleepiness in the community, and the cost-effectiveness of treatment.