The sleep apnea syndrome: diagnosis and management in general practice. A descriptive survey of 579 French general practitioners

General practitioners (GP's) should be the first to recognise the sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) and could play a major role in the follow up of patients treated with continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) at home. We have carried out a prospective study in order to evaluate the knowledge and diagnostic and therapeutic practice of GP's in relation to SAHS. 579 GP's agreed to participate in the study by means of a telephone questionnaire. Although daytime somnolence and the presence of apnoeas and snoring were the most frequently quoted clinical symptoms suggesting the diagnosis of SAHS, a combination of these symptoms was quoted in only one third of cases. On the other hand the complications of SAHS were not well known by GP's as only 25% of them mentioned the possibility of cardiovascular complications; cerebrovascular accidents and arterial hypertension being quoted by only 15% and 8.8% respectively. With regard to the follow up of patients treated with CPAP more than 50% of GP's did not know the minimum duration of ventilation required and 60% did not understand the method of function. These results, which emphasise the underestimation of SAHS and its complications, confirm the need to develop an educational strategy specifically for GP's in an attempt to improve the diagnosis of this disorder and to allow them to take part in the management and monitoring of treatment with CPAP.