There is a strong--and scary--connection between sleep apnea and heart disease. In fact, people with severe untreated sleep apnea are five times more likely to die from heart disease. Another study found that individuals with sleep apnea are twice as likely to experience sudden cardiac death. Sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, heart attacks and strokes; it has also been connected to high rates of diabetes and kidney disease.
Correlation or Causation?
The link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease is a complex one. For instance, being overweight or obese can cause both sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease.
But it is well-established that untreated sleep apnea directly causes high blood pressure because of the stress placed on the heart and body when oxygen levels drop at night. More than 50% of individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea have high blood pressure versus only 30% of the age- and weight- matched general population.
Heart Disease as a Symptom of Sleep Apnea
Some groups have taken a different approach to sleep apnea and heart disease. Instead of looking at people who have sleep apnea, they have studied people with heart disease. For example, when scientists examined a group of 106 patients hospitalized for cardiac disease, 104 of them were found to have previously un-diagnosed sleep apnea.
These patients were then started on treatment with a CPAP machine. The study tracked adherence to CPAP and re-admission to the hospital. None of the patients who were fully compliant with CPAP use were re-admitted within 30 days. However, around 30% of those who were not compliant had to be re-admitted for further treatment of their heart disease.
This study has some very important implicants. First, it suggests that patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease should be tested for sleep apnea because of the high liklihood that they have the sleep disorder. Also, it indicates that CPAP treatment has positive effects on treatment for heart disease. CPAP devices are almost completely effective at eliminating the symptoms of sleep apnea, and it has already been shown that use of a CPAP device immediately decreases blood presure. Effectively treating this sleep condition is definitely a vital step in reclaiming heart health.
Screening for Sleep Apnea
We've talked about heart disease as an indicator of a sleep condition, but how about other heart-related issues?
This report concluded that screening all stroke victims for sleep apnea was cost-effective because mitigating the sleep disorder improved stroke patient outcomes quite dramatically.
A recent cost-effectiveness analysis explored the possibility of screening all individuals with type II diabetes for sleep apnea. The analysis concluded that it was cost-effective to screen all middle-aged men who developed diabetes for sleep apnea because of the ultimate positive results to their health.
Ultimately, sleep apnea is related to a whole host of health problems. If you think that you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, it's important to talk to your doctor and get tested.
Do you think people who have diabetes, strokes, etc. should be automatically tested for sleep apnea? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Photo Credit: le vent le cri
