What lung disease is commonly associated with obesity hypoventilation syndrome?

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome, often referred to as OHS, is characterized by the combination of obesity and hypoventilation, leading to respiratory failure. In this syndrome, the excess body weight contributes to restricted lung expansion, resulting in inadequate ventilation and impaired gas exchange. This leads to conditions similar to restrictive lung disease, where the lung's ability to expand fully is compromised.

Restrictive lung disease is defined by a reduced total lung capacity due to either intrinsic lung pathology (like pulmonary fibrosis) or extrinsic factors that limit lung expansion (such as obesity). In the case of obesity hypoventilation syndrome, the abdominal and thoracic obesity increases the work of breathing and hinders the diaphragm's function, leading to decreased lung volumes and hypoxemia.

In contrast, conditions like asthma and obstructive lung disease are primarily characterized by issues such as airflow obstruction rather than restrictions in lung volume. Cystic fibrosis, while notable for affecting the lungs, involves a distinct pathophysiology related to mucus clearance and abscess formation, which does not align with the mechanism of hypoventilation observed in obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Therefore, recognizing the restrictive nature of ventilatory impairment in obesity hypoventilation syndrome affirms that it