Cardiovascular effects of continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea

The cardiovascular sequelae best shown to be associated with OSA are systemic hypertension and acute vascular events. The cardiovascular sequelae, including acute myocardial infarction or nocturnal angina may be contributed to by arterial vasospasm or clot formation in the area of an atheroma. Thus far there are no data showing that treatment of OSA eliminates vascular sequelae, but much evidence shows that chronic CPAP therapy may lower elevated blood pressure in some patients. However, for a variety of reasons mentioned above, CPAP does not correct hypertension in all OSA patients.