Obstructive sleep apnoea and its cardiovascular consequences.

The article reviews the mechanisms by which obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. It also assesses epidemiological evidence for the link between the conditions and reviews cardiovascular effects of treating OSA with treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Obstructive sleep apnoea is described as a disorder in which repetitive apnoeas create cycles of hypoxia, exaggerated negative intrathoracic pressure, and arousals. OSA has been shown to be associated with hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke. The association of OSA to habitual snoring is also mentioned. The pathophysiology and epidemiology that includes prevalence and risk factors is discussed.