Obstructive sleep apnea and vascular disease

There is emerging evidence linking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to vascula r disease, including hypertension. This relationship may be independent of co-morbidity, such as obesity. Even apparently healthy OSA patients have ev idence of subtle functional vascular abnormalities that are known to occur in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis. Untreated OSA may possib ly contribute to the initiation and/or progression of pathophysiologic mech anisms involved in hypertension, heart failure, cardiac ischemia and stroke . This brief commentary will examine the evidence and mechanisms linking OS A to vascular disease.