Presence of the following make a diagnosis of OSA more likely:
- Loud snoring.Episodes of breathing pauses, choking or gasping during sleep, usually observed by the bed partner.
- Obesity
- A family history of OSA
- Older age.
- Unrefreshing sleep and the tendency to fall asleep during periods of inactivity in the daytime.
OSA may be present even in the absence of these features. The diagnosis is made after a careful sleep physician assessment, often with a confirmatory sleep study.