AJGP Clinical Challenge April 2019: Respiratory tract and sleep disorders

To provide guidance for the general practitioner in the management of respiratory tract and sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders are a common presentation in western society. It is estimated that 11.3% of adults have insomnia disorder, and approximately a third have insomnia symptoms but do not meet full diagnostic criteria. Insomnia is more common in women and young adults. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is another common sleep-related condition, affecting up to 9% of women and 24% of men. Other figures suggest that prevalence may be up to 38% in some populations. Another form of airflow blockage encountered by general practitioners is airway foreign bodies (AFB), with 80% of cases occurring in children under the age of three years. Almost half of patients who present with an AFB are asymptomatic, reinforcing the importance of history in evaluating patients for AFB. Difficult-to-treat and severe asthma are also common respiratory presentations, occurring in 15% and 3–10% of people with asthma, respectively.
Reference on file.

D1. Communication skills and the patient-doctor relationship

• Ways in which health can be optimised and maintained are communicated to patients, family members and carers

D2. Applied professional knowledge and skills

• Rational options for investigations are offered

D3. Population health and the context of general practice

• Barriers to equitable access to quality care are addressed

D4. Professional and ethical role

D5. Organisational and legal dimensions

• Adult health
• Children and young people health