Obstructive sleep apnea – important cardiovascular risk factor

Abstract:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease affecting approximately 5% of the population. The cause of OSA is pharyngeal airway collapse in the snoring patients. Resistant arterial hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, different types of atrioventricular blocks, myocardial infarction, stroke or sudden cardiac death are frequent in the OSA patients. Obese snoring patients who complain of day time sleepiness and/or have a history of frequent car accidents should be suspected of having OSA. Polysomnography is the test of choice and use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is the treatment of choice in patients with this high-risk disease. If left unrecognized and untreated, OSA might have poor prognosis. 

Key words:
cardiovascular diseases; equipment and supplies; respiratory therapy; risk factors; sleep apnea, obstructive