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Published on: December 22, 2016
Cardiovascular consequences of sleep apnea
Bernardo Selim1, Christine Won, H Klar Yaggi
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, PO Box 208057, New Haven, CT 06520-8057, USA.
Insights
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly common and linked to serious cardiovascular events. Treating OSA may offer a new way to improve heart health and reduce mortality.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death globally.
- Despite prevention efforts, it presents an ongoing public health challenge.
- Novel therapeutic targets are crucial for managing cardiovascular disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the link between sleep and cardiovascular disease.
- To highlight obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as a significant factor.
- To investigate OSA's role in cardiovascular pathophysiology and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on OSA prevalence.
- Analysis of studies linking OSA to cardiovascular outcomes.
- Examination of potential pathophysiological mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence is rising, partly due to obesity.
- OSA is independently associated with hypertension, stroke, and arrhythmias.
- A strong link exists between OSA and increased cardiovascular events and mortality.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing the connection between sleep and cardiovascular health is vital.
- Obstructive sleep apnea is a significant, treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Treating OSA presents a promising novel strategy to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death since 1900. Strategies for cardiovascular disease and prevention have helped to reduce the burden of disease, but it remains an important public health challenge. Therefore, understanding the underlying pathophysiology and developing novel therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular disease is of crucial importance. Recognizing the link between sleep and cardiovascular disease may represent one such novel approach. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common form of sleep-disordered breathing, has a high and rising prevalence in the general adult population, attributable in part to the emerging epidemic of obesity and enhanced awareness. OSA has been independently linked to specific cardiovascular outcomes such as hypertension, stroke, myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality. Treatment of OSA may represent a novel target to reduce cardiovascular health outcomes.
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