Bappi Lahiri Died Of OSA: Know Its Prevalence In India & Odisha, Check Your Risk Score

Hari Om Hari .. are the three words that rings loudly as celebrated composer Bappi Lahiri left to the ether world on Wednesday. The Disco King of Indian music died of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The popular music composer, who used electronics bass synthesisers in Bollywood in most of his memorable hit numbers, had composed the popular song "Hari Om Hari.. Gham hai koi toh dam maro yaro Dam kee duwa se gham bhee khushee hai Choor nashe me yeh zindagee hai" in 1980.

The admired music director breathed his last in Mumbai at the age of 69. Know what is the disease that has cut short the life of this affectionate music director - revered as Bappi Da.

As per doctors' statements in Mumbai, Bappi Lahiri died of a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Bapi Lahiri had composed another very popular number in 1981 with the following meaningful lines.

"Jitani Tum Pyar Se Jiloge Utni Hi Zindagi....Rambha Ho Ho Sambha Ho Ho" - This means "The time till you live with love is only Life).

So, instead of making the Zindagi (life) Choor (Crumble) in Nashe me (intoxication), it's high time to detect the disease that is taking roots in India and Odisha in a big way. The acuteness here is this is such a disease condition, which many ignores believing it as a normal phenomenon.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

As per AIIMS, New Delhi, it is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder that includes abnormal respiratory patterns. The country's top medical body has further described that Obstructed Sleep Apnea Syndrome is the one when the OSA symptoms manifest during the daytime along with the condition of excessive sleepiness.

The sign of OSA: The noticeable sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Snoring.

Who Should Check-Up?

As per AIIMS report, here are the individuals who have to undergo the OSA check-up.

• Patients who often snore, experience daytime sleepiness.
• Individuals having the conditions like obesity, hypertension, motor vehicular accidents
• Also, the ones having the high-risk conditions like congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, nocturnal dysrhythmias (unnatural heartbeat rate).
•  Additionally, patients with pulmonary hypertension and preoperative cases

Professionals Who Stand Vulnerable

• Drivers
• Air Pilots
• Railway or Loco Drivers
• Heavy Machinery Workers

What Is the Test?

As per the AIIMS report, laboratory attended Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosing OSA. However, it says, this is not necessary in all patients suspected to have OSA. Portable monitoring or OCST (out of centre sleep testing) with type 3 or type 4 devices (which should at least include airflow, oxygen saturation and respiratory effort) is adequate for diagnosis.

The Epidemiology In India

Various global epidemiologic studies have disclosed that the prevalence of OSA varies widely from 6·5 percent and 9 percent in women and between 17 percent and 31 percent in men.

As per an AIIMS, New Delhi report, community-based epidemiological studies from India have shown that the prevalence of OSAS is 2.4-5 percent in males and 1- 2% in females.

However, as per a report in Lung India journal, studies show the prevalence of OSA in the urban Indian population at 7.5 - 13.5 percent.

Scenario In Odisha

As per the study done in the SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar, the prevalence of OSA was found to be 13.7 percent in Odisha. The study was conducted in 2018.

"A total number of 1012 participants were selected using random sampling technique from various community health camps for the study. The participants were asked to fill in the STOP-Bang questionnaire. All questionnaire respondents were precisely briefed about this study in a face-to-face interview. Data obtained from the survey were subjected to statistics and descriptive analysis. The result was OSA prevalence detected in 13.7 percent of the sampled participants," said Dr Snigdha Mohanty, lead author of the study and added that this study is the first population-based survey of the prevalence of OSA done in Odisha.

The survey has the following findings.

• Of the 13.7 percent detected with OSA, moderate sleep apnea found in nearly 22 percent and severe cases in nearly 33 percent of total detected with OSA.

• Highest proportion or say 21.7 percent of 124 individuals in 50-59 years age group have  OSA syndrome
• Second highest prevalence (15.8% or 28 out of 183) in 40-49 years age group.
• A prevalence rate of over 12 percent found in age groups like 18-39 years and 60 - plus age group.
• OSA is more prevalent in men (2–3 times) in comparison with women.
• The study attributed this to the pattern of fat distribution and differences in sex hormones

AIIMS All India Report - Who Are At Risk?

Following are the conditions that would predispose an individual to develop OSA.

• Old age in Males
• During Pregnancy and post-Menopause years in women
• If the Central part of the body has high-fat deposition or has a neck with increased circumference.
• Using tobacco
• Consuming Alcohol
• Nighttime nasal congestion
• Diseases like hyperthyroidism
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Using drugs like benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, testosterone therapy (medicines taken to boost male sex hormone)

Take Your STOP-Bang Questionnaire

• Snoring loudly?
• Feeling sleepy, tired or fatigued at day time?
• Observed any stoppage of breathing - means feeling choked -during sleep?
• Taking or have taken High Blood Pressure treatment?
• Is your Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 35kg/m2?
• Age more than 50 years?
• Do you have a large neck size?
• Are you a male?

There are 8 questions. If you score 5 or more, then the risk is severe. Medium risk if the score is 3-4 and low risk if the score is 0-2.