The current indicators for assessing obstructive sleep apnea are sleep apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest nocturnal oxygen saturation, but they do not comprehensively reflect the severity of the disease. The main treatments for OSA are continuous positive airway pressure, mandibular advancement devices and surgery, which have poor compliance and limited effectiveness. Therefore, there is a need to explore novel methods to assess and treat OSA. This article systematically summarized recent advances in this field.