Sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) encompasses conditions affecting breathing during sleep.
• Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) and central sleep apnoea (CSA) are key types.
• SDB is increasingly associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, including hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evidence linking SDB, especially OSAHS, with cardiovascular diseases.
• To evaluate the impact of treating SDB, particularly with CPAP, on cardiovascular outcomes.
• To highlight the clinical importance of recognizing and managing SDB in cardiovascular patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating SDB and cardiovascular disease.
• Analysis of treatment outcomes for OSAHS using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
• Examination of the effects of CPAP on blood pressure, arrhythmias, and cardiac function.

Main Results:

• OSAHS is an independent risk factor for hypertension.
• SDB is associated with cardiac failure, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease.
• CPAP treatment for OSAHS can lower blood pressure, reduce arrhythmias, and improve endovascular inflammation markers.
• CPAP shows mild positive effects on left ventricular function in heart failure but has not improved mortality, potentially due to undertreated CSA.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians must recognize the strong association between SDB and cardiovascular dysfunction.
• Treating SDB can improve sleepiness, quality of life, and driving safety.
• Emerging evidence suggests SDB treatment may also mitigate cardiovascular risk, even in asymptomatic individuals.