Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Metabolic Syndrome

Lee, Sang Haak

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) is a very prevalent disorder and strongly associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors including insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia. The increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is linked to the epidemic of obesity, which is also accompanied by an increasing prevalence of OSA. OSA and the metabolic syndrome show many common features, and in fact, may often coexist. A growing body of evidence supports an association between OSA and metabolic syndrome or its components. Cumulative data suggest a causal role of severe OSA in development of hypertension, but independent associations with glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia are controversial. To clarify causal relationships between two syndromes, large randomized trials of longer follow-up period using intervention using continuous positive airway pressure therapy are needed. In practice, physicians should aware that both syndromes are frequently overlapped and meticulous evaluation and management of metabolic risk factors in OSA patient, and vice versa, could prevent development of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.