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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2005; 26(1): 25-32
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-864208
Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Cardiopulmonary Consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sean M. Caples1 , Tomas Kara2 , Virend K. Somers2
  • 1Department of Medicine, Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
  • 2Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Publication History

Publication Date:
22 February 2005 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Ongoing research in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) suggests strong associations with cardiopulmonary disorders. There is an abundance of studies describing physiological pathways in OSA that acutely impact the cardiovascular system. These mechanisms, if proven to carry over into the daytime hours, could form the basis for clinical disease. The challenge remains in disentangling these mechanistic processes from the many comorbid conditions often present in patients with OSA. Examples include male gender, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, all of which exert their own influence on the development of cardiopulmonary disease. This review discusses some of the physiological mechanisms associated with disordered breathing during sleep and explores putative cardiopulmonary disease associations.

KEYWORDS

Obstructive sleep apnea - sleep-disordered breathing - cardiovascular disease - obesity - hypoventilation

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Virend K SomersM.D. Ph.D. 

Mayo Clinic, W9, 200 First St. SW

Rochester, MN 55905

Email: Somers.Virend@mayo.edu

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