Author(s): Delia Silverio, Ian Martinez, Elizabeth Hilario, Rosmery Morcelo, Wellington Fabian, Peter D. Montan, Eliscer Guzman,
and Constantine E. Kosmas
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disorder currently affecting up to 50% of middle-aged men and 23% of middle-aged women with up to 80% of patients with OSA being undiagnosed. This condition has been linked through multiple mechanisms to several cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (HTN), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), thoracic and abdominal aortic dilatation and aneurysm, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF), atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke. Our review aims to examine the impact of OSA on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and discuss the relevant associated mechanisms.