Ongoing Sleepiness After Successful Airway Pressure Treatment Needs Separate Medical Assessment

Persistent sleepiness after effective PAP therapy requires independent clinical evaluation.

• Effective control of sleep-disordered breathing does not always restore normal daytime alertness.
• Residual excessive daytime sleepiness should not be automatically attributed to treated obstructive sleep apnea.
• Evaluation should differentiate between PAP adherence, treatment efficacy, and symptomatic recovery.
• Complaints of sleepiness need to be assessed to rule out fatigue, apathy, and other factors.
• Alternative contributors to persistent sleepiness include insufficient sleep, circadian misalignment, and coexisting conditions.

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