Abstract

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are at greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea also seems to be higher in patients with cardiovascular conditions. Obstructive sleep apnea and coronary artery disease share some common risk factors while the pathophysiological interaction between them includes neural, humoral, mechanical and hemodynamic components. In this review we focus on the association between obstructive sleep apnea and coronary disease on the basis of their pathophysiological interaction, inflammatory mechanisms and to the effects of sleep apnea therapy on coronary disease outcomes.

Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular risk, systemic inflammation.