Bariatric surgery · Obesity and metabolism

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome

Understand an obesity-related breathing disorder that causes excess carbon dioxide in the blood.

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Understand

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome combines obesity with inadequate breathing while awake, causing excess carbon dioxide and low oxygen in the blood.

Breathlessness, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, snoring, pauses or gasping at night may occur.

Weight on the chest and abdomen, hormonal changes and an inadequate breathing response contribute; sleep apnoea is very commonly associated.

Assessment combines symptoms, examination, body mass index and confirmation of hypoventilation while excluding other causes.

Blood gases or bicarbonate, oxygen measurement, lung-function testing and a sleep study are used as appropriate.

Without treatment it can worsen and cause pulmonary hypertension, heart failure or respiratory decompensation.

Night-time positive airway pressure and a sustained weight-loss strategy are central; medicines or bariatric surgery may form part of care.

Seek assessment for marked sleepiness, breathlessness, snoring with pauses or ankle swelling.

Severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, confusion, chest pain or unusual drowsiness with difficulty waking requires emergency help.

A procedure linked to a condition does not establish an indication for your individual situation.