[Sleep apnea in arterial hypertension]

Abstract

Background: The sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) and high blood pressure (HBP) present multiple relations. Apnea culminates with an increase in arterial pressure, and a high percentage of apneic patients have HBP. It has also been reported that SAS is more frequent among hypertensive patients than among the general population.

Methods: In the present study 91 essential hypertensive individuals were studied by a questionnaire and polygraphic study of night sleep, to establish the prevalence of SAS among hypertensive subjects and the predictive value of the clinical questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of SAS in HBP was 8.8%. The greatest predictive value was found for the presence of respiratory pauses every night and throughout the night. The risk factor of greatest association was cigarette smoking and the greatest organic repercussion was observed in renal function.

Conclusions: An increase in the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome was found among essential hypertensive subjects, thus leading this syndrome to be suggested as a risk factor of high blood pressure. The question as to whether the patients present daily pauses between snores and throughout the entire night is suggestive and implies confirmation by polygraphic study of night sleep.