Cardiovascular Diseases and Sleep Apnea
noun – The simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient.
The presence of one disease often indicates a high likelihood of the presence of another disease.
Sleep apnea is a major comorbidity to most cardiovascular diseases and a significant risk factor for stroke, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
Furthermore, the presence of sleep apnea can exacerbate the seriousness of many cardiovascular diseases. The following is a chart indicating sleep
apnea comorbidities.
Despite evidence showing that sleep apnea management improves patient outcomes and
reduces hospital readmission, millions of cardiac patients still remain undiagnosed and untreated for this serious condition.
Presently, 50% of all cardiovascular patients suffer from sleep apnea and 80% remain undiagnosed If you suffer from a cardiac related disease, insist your cardiologist test you for sleep apnea.
You can screen yourself for the likelihood of sleep apnea by taking the Sleep Apnea Risk Level Test Here.
- Seet E, Chung F. Obstructive sleep apnea: Preoperative assessment. Anesthesiology Clin. 2010 Jun;28(2):199-215
- Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, et al. on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2022 update: a report from the American Heart Association [published online ahead of print Wednesday, January 26, 2022]. Circulation. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052
- Yeghiazarians Y, Jneid H, Tietjens JR, et al. on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; Stroke Council; and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia. Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation; 2021;144(3):e56-e67. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000988