Current Practice of Sleep Medicine in Lebanon

There are several major universities and medical schools in Lebanon, including the American University of Beirut School of Medicine & Medical Center, Lebanese American University/Medical Center, Lebanese University, Universite Saint Joseph/Hotel Dieu de France, Beirut Arab University, University of Balamand, Saint Georges University/Medical Center, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik and others. Many of these medical centers and schools of medicine offer a solid medical education as well as post-graduate training in various fields of medicine that are related to sleep medicine. These include Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, General/Bariatric Surgery, Neurology, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Dentistry, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Psychiatry, Nutrition/dietetics and other related specialties.

As will be further elaborated in this chapter, there are multiple particularities related to the diagnosis and management of patients who have sleep disorders in Lebanon. Even though the field is developing, there are certainly opportunities for further advancement and development.

Keywords: Awareness campaigns, CPAP, Insurance reimbursement, Insomnia, Ministry of Health, Multidisciplinary sleep disorders team, Obstructive sleep apnea, Patient education, Polysomnograms, Sleep centers, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).