A 60-year-old male with COPD reports poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. He also mentions that his wife has noticed him snoring loudly and occasionally stopping breathing during sleep. What might be the issue and what are the next steps?
This patient's symptoms of poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, and witnessed apneas suggest the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can coexist with COPD, a combination known as overlap syndrome. The next step would be a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis of OSA. If confirmed, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy would be initiated.