Obstructive sleep apnea increases heart attack or death risk

A recent research has found that people suffering from the night time breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea are at a greater risk of a heart attack.

Washington, May 21 : A recent research has found that people suffering from the night time breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea are at a greater risk of a heart attack.

The study, presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference on May 21, demonstrated that sleep apnea increases a person's chances of having a heart attack or dying by 30% over a period of four to five years.

The more severe the sleep apnea at the beginning of the study, the greater the risk of developing heart disease or dying, the study found.

"While previous studies have shown an association between sleep apnea and heart disease, ours is a large study that allowed us to not only follow patients for five years and look at the association between sleep apnea and the combined outcome of heart attack and death, but also adjust for other traditional risk factors for heart disease," says researcher Neomi Shah, M.D., of Yale University.

"We recommend that patients who experience symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea-excessive daytime sleepiness, or snoring along with breathing pauses-consult their physician," Dr. Shah says. "There is some evidence to make us believe that when sleep apnea is appropriately treated, the risk of heart disease can be lowered."

In obstructive sleep apnea, which is mostly caused due to obesity, the upper airway narrows, or disintegrates, during sleep. Periods of apnea end with a short partial arousal that may upset sleep hundreds of times a night.

The most helpful treatment for sleep apnea is a technique called nasal CPAP, for non-stop positive airway pressure, which delivers air through a mask while the patient sleeps, keeping the airway open. It has proved successful in many cases in providing a good night's sleep, preventing daytime accidents due to sleepiness and improving quality of life.

The study consisted of 1,123 patients referred for sleep apnea assessment. They underwent an overnight sleep study to find out if they had sleep apnea. Over the next four to five years, they were followed to see how many had any heart disease events (heart attack, coronary angiography or bypass surgery) or died.

Sleep apnea sets off the body's "fight or flight" mechanism, which reduces the quantity of blood pumped to the heart. Recurring episodes every night for a few years can starve the heart of adequate oxygen when it is combined with the body's decreased oxygen intake due to the regular breathing stoppages during the night, Dr. Shah says.

ANI