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Mechanisms of apnea
Danny J Eckert1, Atul Malhotra, Amy S Jordan
1Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Sleep Disorders Program and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. deckert@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA), involves airway issues or lack of breathing drive. Both conditions impair sleep and increase cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) encompasses conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
- OSA involves pharyngeal airway collapse, while CSA is due to reduced respiratory drive, common in heart failure.
- Both OSA and CSA compromise gas exchange, sleep quality, and elevate cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology of OSA and CSA.
- To explore the cardiovascular system's role in sleep-disordered breathing.
- To highlight the overlap in pathophysiologies between different SDB types.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of OSA and CSA.
- Analysis of underlying mechanisms and cardiovascular involvement.
- Synthesis of current understanding of SDB.
Main Results:
- OSA and CSA represent a spectrum of SDB with shared pathophysiological elements.
- Cardiovascular factors significantly contribute to SDB development and severity.
- Significant overlap exists between OSA, CSA, and other SDB forms.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the shared mechanisms of OSA and CSA is crucial for effective management.
- The cardiovascular system plays a pivotal role in the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing.
- Further research into the overlap of SDB pathophysiologies is warranted.
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