Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
6777715 
Journal Article 
Review 
Cardiovascular implications in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea 
Vanderveken, OM; Boudewyns, A; Ni, Q; Kashyap, B; Verbraecken, J; De Backer, W; Van de Heyning, P 
2011 
No 
Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research
ISSN: 1937-5387 
4 
1 
53-60 
English 
21104045 
WOS:000286106400008 
Epidemiological studies provide strong evidence that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with cardiovascular complications such as systemic hypertension, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Successful OSA treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has resulted in coincident reductions in systemic hypertension, improvements in left ventricular systolic function, and reductions in sympathetic nervous activity. These data suggest that successful treatment of OSA may reduce cardiovascular morbidity in such patients. Although CPAP is the more successful treatment for OSA when used properly and consistently, its clinical success is often limited by poor patient and partner acceptance, which leads to suboptimal compliance. Oral appliances or upper airway surgeries are considered a second line of treatment for patients with mild to moderate OSA who do not comply with or refuse long-term CPAP treatment. Oral devices such as mandibular repositioning appliances were recently shown to improve arterial hypertension in OSA patients. Electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve is a new investigational therapy for patients with moderate to severe OSA. This new treatment option, if proven effective, may provide cardiovascular benefits secondary to treating OSA.