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Obstructive sleep apnoea and metabolic syndrome: two sides of the same coin?

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 22, pages 377–379 (2008)Cite this article

There is a growing awareness of sleep-disordered breathing as a potential and treatable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) increases the risk of both cardiovascular diseases (for example, cardiac ischaemia, hypertension, arrhythmia and so on), cerebrovascular disease (for example, stroke) and even death.1, 2 Other cardiovascular risk factors such as such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and obesity frequently accompany OSA.3

A large number of neural, humoral, vascular and inflammatory abnormalities are evident in patients with OSA and have been implicated in the initiation and progression of cardiac and vascular disease conditions.3 However, the relative importance of each mechanism in the development of specific cardiac conditions still remains unknown. Indeed, the intermittent hypoxia seen in OSA leads to hypertension, sympathetic overactivity and dysregulation of the renin–angiotensin system, as well as altered vascular and baroreceptor functions. Intermittent hypoxia has also been implicated in a systemic inflammatory response, which may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis and impaired vascular function, which probably relates to an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction in patients with OSA.4

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  1. University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    G Dwivedi, O Khair & G Y H Lip

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Correspondence to G Dwivedi.

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Dwivedi, G., Khair, O. & Lip, G. Obstructive sleep apnoea and metabolic syndrome: two sides of the same coin?. J Hum Hypertens 22, 377–379 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2008.14

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