The obesity hypoventilation syndrome, which is defined as a combination of obesity and
chronic hypoventilation, utimately results in pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale, and
probable early mortality. Since the classical description of this syndrome nearly fifty years
ago, research has led to a better understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms
involved in this disease process, and to the development of effective treatment options.
However, recent data indicate the obesity hypoventilation syndrome is under-recognized …