Obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) involves airway collapse during sleep, causing arousal, pressure changes, and intermittent hypoxaemia.
• These events trigger pathways including oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, increasing cardiovascular disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular diseases.
• To examine the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on blood pressure in OSA patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating OSA and its cardiovascular implications.
• Analysis of data on CPAP treatment efficacy in reducing blood pressure.

Main Results:

• OSA is a significant cause of systemic hypertension, particularly resistant hypertension.
• CPAP treatment can reduce blood pressure in OSA patients, with effects dependent on compliance and baseline blood pressure.
• Evidence links OSA to stroke and heart failure risk, with associations for coronary heart disease primarily in middle-aged men.

Conclusions:

• OSA is a critical factor in hypertension and atherosclerosis development.
• While CPAP shows blood pressure-lowering effects, current evidence is insufficient to recommend it for primary or secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.
• Further research is needed to clarify OSA's role in cardiovascular risk in women and older populations.