SLEEP-APNEA AND SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM ACTIVITY - A REVIEW

A review was made of the literature relating sleep apnoea to sympathet ic nervous system (SNS) activity, as inferred from catecholamine level s or muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Twenty-four studies wer e located. Most studies reported an elevation of norepinephrine and MS NA, both during sleep and wakefulness among individuals with sleep apn oea, However, studies rarely controlled for known confounders of sympa thetic activity, making the validity of the findings questionable.