Article
Interrelations between severity of obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and sudden death
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Authors
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Alexandra Cirticioiu
- Mures County Emergency Hospital, ENT Department, Turceni, Romania
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Iren Csiszer
- Mures County Emergency Hospital, ENT Department, Targu Mures, Romania
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Adriana Neagos
- Mures County Emergency Hospital, ENT department, Targu Mures, Romania
| Published: | April 14, 2014 |
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Outline
Text
Introduction: It is well known that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and sudden death for elderly sleep apnea patients. This is because in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea, repeated suffocation episodes at night impose a large load on the heart and blood vessels, which result in the development of hypertension and sudden death from heart failure.
Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate how the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, evaluated by apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) influences the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and if there are some correlations between those pathologies. Polygraphic and polysomnographic recordings were conducted, together with a thorough ENT examination, as well as a cardiology consult.
Results: The study population was divided into two groups according to the recordings that were carried out and the results (AHI) were correlated with the stages of hypertension. Thus, the mean of AHI is 32,16 ± 27, IC 95% 26,35–35,97, there is a statistically significant difference between the groups of AHI according to stages of hypertension (p= 0,008, for polygraphic recording and p=0,001 for polysomnographic recording). There was no sudden death in our study.
Conclusions: The result of this study shows a high frequency of hypertension, especially stage I of hypertension within pacients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Also, hypertension is frequent present in pacients with severe obstructive sleep apnea.
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