Cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea: an underappreciated role for increased platelet activity?

Abstract

A reviewer has given talks and attended conferences sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme, AstraZeneca and Libytec.

A response to “Cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea: an underappreciated role for increased platelet activity?”

“…We agree with the authors [1] that it would be attractive to identify a simple and easily accessible marker of hypercoagulability in OSA with decision-making potential. All in all, the evidence is missing to provide a clear-cut answer as to whether an upstream AFib management with anticoagulation adjunct to continuous positive airway pressure would result in decreased AFib-related morbidity and mortality [4].…”

“…The most hazardous complications of AFib (e.g. stroke) may be further promoted by OSA, as pointed out by the authors [1]. The aforementioned clinical entities where the SR still predominates (preclinical and recurrent AFib) may be associated with typical AFib complications including thrombotic events.…”

“…Jacek Wolf and Krzysztof Narkiewicz We thank Drs Steiropoulos, Voulgaris, and Papanas [1] for their comments on our article published in EOOP [2].…”

“…The aforementioned clinical entities where the SR still predominates (preclinical and recurrent AFib) may be associated with typical AFib complications including thrombotic events. Notably, the hypercoagulability and pro-thrombotic potential of untreated OSA multiplies the risk to an even greater extent [1]. Although the link between OSA and AFib development seems to be well-evidenced, so far there is no guideline to initiate anticoagulation therapy in the setting of OSA.…”