Obstructive sleep apnoea: What is the evidence for vascular pathogenesis?

摘要

OSA occurs primarily in the upper airways, but it triggers a myriad of downstream systemic events, and its major morbidity fall on the cardiovascular (including cerebrovascular) system and neurocognitive function, rather than the respiratory system itself. Since OSA and cardiovascular disease are common conditions, with the promise of an increasing prevalence of both in this era of obesity epidemic, the impact of OSA on vascular pathogenesis has immense public health implications.