I have written in the past about the World
Congress on Sleep Apnea. I was a newcomer then and knew hardly anyone. But
now six years later many of the American attendees and some of the Europeans
recognize me. Progress, I guess.
On the conference’s first day, two keynote addresses were delivered
simultaneously. I attended Dr. Alan Pack's presentation on OSA and genetics. No
new information, but a useful overview of where the research stands today. His
most startlingly remark had to do with the likely increased incidence of OSA
in China. The prevalence of sleep apnea there, he said, is due in large measure
to the recessed chin typical of the Chinese, an anatomical feature that narrows
the opening to the upper airway. Now that the high fat western diet is making
its way into China, the corresponding increase in people’s weight will add to
the prevalence of OSA, Pack said, and increase the number of people suffering.
The highlight of the first day of the meeting was a trip to the
Sala della Protomoteca in the Capitolium for an inaugural ceremony. I was one
of the invited speakers for the proposal of a world awareness day on
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS Day). Here is the text of my speech in
English. I read it in Italian and translated it...
Mr. Mayor, dignitaries from La Sapienza, the Pontifical Lateran
University, Celio Military Hospital, and Umberto I General Hospital.
Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak at this
ceremony.
I am honored to share the dais with Drs. Lugaresi, Guilleminault, Kryger,
Fabiani, and Bruni, representing the American Sleep Apnea
Association and representing the millions of adults and children around the
world suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
It is past time to wake up to how serious this condition is not only
to those who suffer from it, but to their bed partners, family, their
co-workers and the larger community.
Our association will collaborate with other patient organizations
to use world awareness day for obstructive sleep apnea as an annual event to encourage
people who suspect they have the condition to speak with their doctor and begin
the process of recovering their ability to get a good night’s sleep, something
that is so important to a healthy life.
Again, thank you very much for this great honor.
May 25 was designated World OSAS Day. That date was chosen because
of its significance in the history of the sleep apnea research. On that day in 1972
the first international research meeting for sleep apnea, a gathering organized
by Prof. Elio Lugaresi and Prof. Paul Sadoul, convened in Rimini, Italy.
Thus went Day 1. Then it was on to the patients' group roundtable.
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