Certified Polysomnographic Technician (CPSGT) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CPSGT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is characterized by a lack of respiratory effort during sleep due to a failure of the brain to send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing. Among the options listed, obesity is primarily associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where airway blockages occur due to fatty tissue in the throat, rather than central factors that affect breath control.

Idiopathic factors, cerebrovascular events, and obstructive sleep apnea all relate to conditions that can contribute to central sleep apnea. For instance, cerebrovascular events such as strokes can disrupt the brain's control over breathing patterns, leading to CSA. Similarly, idiopathic central sleep apnea is diagnosed when no clear cause can be found, but it is still classified as a central issue. On the other hand, although obstructive sleep apnea may coexist with CSA, it does not directly cause central sleep apnea.

In summary, obesity is more directly related to obstructive mechanisms affecting airflow rather than central signals controlling respiration, making it the least relevant among the potential causes of central sleep apnea.