The Cardio Sleep-Connection

Consider all of the associations between Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and the risks inherent in your patient population. The Sleep Heart Health Study, a multi-center cohort study implemented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has determined that SDB is associated with…

1. An increased risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events.
   
   
2. An increased risk of incident stroke.
   
   
3. Increased blood pressure.
   
   
4. An increased risk of all-cause mortality.
   
   
5. An increased risk of recurrent CHD.
   
   
6. An increased risk of recurrent stroke.
   
   
7. Impairment of health-related quality of life.
   
   
8. A more rapid decrease in health-related quality of life.
   
   
9. Increases in left ventricular mass.
   
   
10. Changes in carotid measurements.
    
    
11. An increase in arrhythmias.
    
    
12. An increase in neuropsychological deficits (e.g., in attention, executive functions, learning and memory, and information processing) and with adverse effects on mood (e.g., irritability, anxiety, and depression).
    
    
13. Increased sleepiness.
    
    
14. Aaemostatic dysfunction that promotes hypercoagulation and thrombosis.
    
    
15. Adistinct circadian pattern of cardiovascular (CVD) event occurrence.
    
    
16. Increases in nocturnal blood pressure and/or increasing 24-hour hypertensive load.
    
    
17. Level of lung function as measured by spirometry modifies CVD risk of SDB.
    
    
18. The impact of CVD risk factors differs with the presence or absence of SDB.
    
    
19. The impact of SDB on CVD risk is mediated by the effects of SDB on CVD risk factors, including blood glucose, insulin, and cholesterol levels, each of which may be increased via the effect of SDB on autonomic nervous system activity.
    
    
20. Self-reported sleep problems are associated with an increase in CVD events.
    

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