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Impact of sleep apnea and treatments on cardiovascular disease

Andre Faria1, Arthur Macedo1, Carolina Castro1

  • 1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brazil.

Sleep Science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|June 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and heart failure. Treating OSA may reduce the incidence of these serious cardiovascular complications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a major global health burden, causing millions of deaths annually.
  • Understanding risk factors for CVDs is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to CVDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review epidemiological data linking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with major cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To explore the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms connecting OSA and cardiovascular diseases.
  • To discuss the impact of OSA treatments on cardiovascular complication prevalence.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of epidemiological studies.
  • Analysis of proposed biological pathways and mechanisms.
  • Evaluation of evidence on therapeutic interventions for OSA and their cardiovascular effects.

Main Results:

  • Significant associations found between OSA and increased risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stroke, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.
  • Multiple biological pathways identified, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and sympathetic nervous system activation, link OSA to cardiovascular disease.
  • Evidence suggests that treating OSA can mitigate the risk and prevalence of cardiovascular complications.

Conclusions:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea is a significant and modifiable risk factor for a wide range of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Targeting OSA through appropriate treatments offers a promising strategy to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

Keywords:
Atrial FibrillationContinuous Positive Airway PressureHypertensionObstructiveSleep ApneaStrokeWeight Loss

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