Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension

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What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway inspiratory collapse during sleep causing hypopnea and apnea leading to oxygen desaturation and arousals from sleep.

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How common is OSA?

It has been estimated that 2% to 5% of the adult population in Western countries have symptomatic OSA. Prevalence of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic OSA without daytime sleepiness and fatigue is likely underestimated but has been reported to be as high as 30% among middle-aged adults. The prevalence of OSA is increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (30%), in patients with type 2 diabetes (25%), and in obese patients (30%) as compared with the general age-matched population. OSA is even more prevalent in patients with hypertension (HTN) resistant to treatment. For example, Logan et al. reported a prevalence of OSA of over 80% among nondiabetic patients with a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher treated with three or more antihypertensive drugs.

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