Sleep apnea syndrome: implications on cardiovascular diseases

Global risk assessment is the standard of care for coronary artery disease management. In this setting, sleep apnea syndrome, which includes obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, is being increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease. Emerging evidence points toward a cause and effect relationship between sleep apnea syndrome and medical conditions like insulin resistance, hypertension, heart failure, and myocardial ischemia. The effects of sleep apnea on coronary artery disease can be independent of many traditional risk factors. Continuous positive airway pressure has been shown to decrease inflammatory markers that are elevated in sleep apnea syndrome. Well-designed randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to better establish the role of sleep apnea in the genesis and progression of coronary artery disease.