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AmJCaseRep

Influence of obstructive sleep apnea on cardiovascular diseases – case report

Urszula Bujacz-Jędrzejczak, Anna Kapica, Marcin Barylski, Maciej Banach, Beata Liban-Gałka, Katarzyna Świderek, Lucjan Pawlicki, Jan Kowalski

Med Sci Tech 2007; 48(3): CR199-201

ID: 881561

Available online:

Published: 2007-03-20


Introduction: The connection between the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and numerous cardiovascular system diseases (pulmonary hypertension, ischemic heart disease, acute coronary syndromes, strokes, systolic hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia) seems to be increasingly better understood and documented. Each year brings about a number of papers confirming that obstructive sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of these diseases. Circulatory complications are the main cause of the doubled mortality rate in OSA patients. The highest risk of death due to untreated OSA refers to men above 50 years of age. Case report: We present the case of a 51 year old male with numerous risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (morbid obesity, systolic hypertension, type 2 diabetes), who was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea. As a result of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure equipment, the apnea episodes were drastically reduced. Aside from eliminating shallowness and fragmentation of sleep, a surprising improvement of systolic pressure, body mass, glycaemia, cholesterol levels and physical endurance was observed. It must be stressed that no modifications of the pharmacological treatment were introduced. Conclusions: Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea is advised for all patients diagnosed with it, and physicians of all specializations should pay attention for signs of breathing disorders during sleep, keeping in mind the fact that effective treatment of OSA is possible and reduces negative consequences of the disease, improving the prognoses. (Clin Exp Med Lett 2007; 48(3):199-201)

Keywords: obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular risk factors



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