[Cardiovascular consequences of sleep apnea]

A growing body of epidemiologic, experimental, and therapeutic data supports an association between sleep disordered breathing and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Pathophysiologic mechanisms including sympathetic activation, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, hyperleptinemia, insulin resistance, lipidic peroxydation, may influence the development and progression of hypertension, ischemic cardiopathy, cardiac rythm disturbances, cardiac failure, renal failure and stroke. Treatment of apneas is associated with a decrease in new cardiovascular events. These results support the importance of recognising, treating, and if possible preventing OSA.