Sleep apnea, cardiac arrhythmias, and conduction disorders

Abstract

Sleep apnea (SA) is a common breathing disorder. It is associated with a myriad of medical conditions including increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have shown that cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders are common in patients with SA. Sleep apnea has also been also linked to heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke. The purpose of this brief review is to analyze the available information that links SA with different cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders and the role of intracardiac devices for the diagnosis and management of this condition.