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Review
. 2010 Jul;8(7):995-1005.
doi: 10.1586/erc.10.55.

Cardiovascular disease risk reduction with sleep apnea treatment

Girardin Jean-Louis  1 , Clinton D Brown, Ferdinand Zizi, Gbenga Ogedegbe, Carla Boutin-Foster, Joseph Gorga, Samy I McFarlane
Affiliations
Review

Cardiovascular disease risk reduction with sleep apnea treatment

Girardin Jean-Louis et al. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2010 Jul.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among adults in developed countries. An increase in prevalent cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., obesity, hypertension and diabetes) has led to a concerted effort to raise awareness of the need to use evidence-based strategies to help patients at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and to reduce their likelihood of suffering a stroke. Sleep apnea has emerged as an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Epidemiologic and clinical evidence has prompted the American Heart Association to issue a scientific statement describing the need to recognize sleep apnea as an important target for therapy in reducing cardiovascular disease risks. This article examines evidence supporting associations of sleep apnea with cardiovascular disease and considers evidence suggesting cardiovascular risk reductions through sleep apnea treatment. Perspectives on emerging therapeutic approaches and promising areas of clinical and experimental research are also discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence estimates of sleep apnea in several cardiovascular conditions based on published epidemiologic reports.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The associations of obstructive sleep apnea with cardiovascular disease via increased physiologic and biologic dysfunctions resulting from repetitive apneic events.
Figure 3
Figure 3. An obstructive sleep apnea event leading to oxyhemoglobin desaturation
Adapted from the Sleep Academy Award Program sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Demonstrated benefits of treating obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure or bilevel positive airway pressure therapy
BiPAP: Bilevel positive airway pressure; CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure; OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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