Sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement

Abstract (PubMed)

This Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Foundation reviews the relationship between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and arrhythmias. It synthesizes evidence on mechanisms linking sleep-disordered breathing to cardiovascular risk and provides clinical recommendations. The statement covers epidemiology, pathophysiology (sympathetic activation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction), and treatment implications of obstructive and central sleep apnea in cardiovascular patients.