Heart and blood vessel problems linked to obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) with a prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension ranging from 40-60%.

• OSA-related CVD includes pulmonary hypertension (20-30%), coronary artery disease (20-30%), congestive heart failure (5-10%), and stroke (5-10%).
• Patients with an apnea-hypopnea index greater than 30 per hour are particularly affected by OSA-related CVD.
• Epidemiologic data indicate that cardiovascular risk in OSA is elevated regardless of factors like obesity and metabolic diseases.
• Increased oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory changes, along with sympathetic activation, contribute to the pathophysiology of OSA-related CVD.
• Endothelial dysfunction and enhanced atherosclerosis have been observed in patients with OSA using high resolution ultrasonography.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may improve cardiovascular health by correcting vascular conditions and reducing rates of myocardial infarction and stroke.

Simplified