Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS)

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Respiratory system

Pickwickian syndrome

The main symptoms of OHS are due to sleep deprivation, and include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times during the day
• Increased risk for accidents or errors at work
• Depression

Symptoms of chronic hypoxia (low blood oxygen level) can also occur, such as shortness of breath or fatigue after minimal physical effort.

Persons with OHS are usually extremely overweight. Physical signs that suggest OHS include:

• Cyanosis (bluish coloration of the lips, fingers, toes, or skin)
• Signs of right-side heart failure (cor pulmonale ) such as swollen legs or feet, shortness of breath, or feeling fatigued after little exertion.

Tests done to confirm the diagnosis include:

• Sleep study
• Pulmonary function
• Arterial blood gas

The presence of high carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the blood when a person is awake helps distinguish OHS from obstructive sleep apnea.

Review Date: 08/10/2005
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.