Cardiovascular Consequences of Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Sleep apnea is a common health concern that is characterized by repetitive episodes of asphyxia. This condition has been linked to serious long-term adverse effects such as hypertension, metabolic dysregulation, and cardiovascular disease. Although the mechanism for the initiation and aggravation of cardiovascular disease has not been fully elucidated, oxidative stress and subsequent endothelial dysfunction play major roles. Animal models, which have the advantage of being free of comorbidities and/or behavioral variables (that commonly occur in humans), allow invasive measurements under well-controlled experimental conditions, and as such are useful tools in the study of the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleep apnea. This review summarizes currently available information on the cardiovascular consequences of sleep apnea and briefly describes common experimental approaches useful to sleep apnea in different animal models.

Dyslipidemia: another brick in the wall. A feasible link in the OSA–cardiovascular disease axis

“…A frequent consequence of OSA is diminished endothelial function including decreased nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation. A very recent review summarizing current experimental information from animal models gives a deep insight in the complexity of alterations in NO production in patients with OSA [1].…”

The efficacy of antihypertensive drugs in chronic intermittent hypoxia conditions

“…Moreover, in humans the circadian distribution of sleep tends to be consolidated and normally monophasic, with a daily sleep duration of 7–8 h, whereas it is polyphasic, relatively fragmented and with a duration of 12–15 h in rodents (Toth and Bhargava, 2013). Another issue is related to the fact that rodents sleep in the prone position (Golbidi et al, 2012); it is well known that supine OSA is the dominant phenotype of OSA syndrome and that the supine position favors upper airway collapse in humans (Joosten et al, 2014). Furthermore, additional care must be taken to minimize external factors (e.g., light exposure, photoperiod, noise, disruptions in the home environment, and post-surgical care in studies, for instance requiring implantation of telemetric devices) able to influence sleep in animals used in experimental research (reviewed in Toth and Bhargava, 2013).…”

“…The experimental animal models developed to mimic OSA have recently been reviewed (Dematteis et al, 2009; Golbidi et al, 2012; Davis and O'Donnell, 2013; Toth and Bhargava, 2013) and assembled taking into account the main injuries triggered by OSA. Despite attempts to use large animals (e.g., dogs, lambs, and pigs) to simulate upper airway obstruction, most research on the cardiovascular consequences of OSA has been performed in rodents.…”

Effect Of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure On Global Right Ventricular Myocardial Performance In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

“…Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by repeated upper respiratory tract obstruction during sleep and frequently by a decrease in oxygen saturation (1). The most common symptoms in OSAS are severe snoring, daytime sleepiness, and reported apnea.…”