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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome as a Trigger of Cardiac Arrhythmias

  • Invasive Electrophysiology and Pacing (E. Kevin Heist, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Cardiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has a high prevalence in western countries. Many papers have been published with the purpose of demonstrating that OSAS acts as an arrhythmia trigger and is responsible for an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to review our knowledge on this topic.

Recent Findings

There is a lot of evidence demonstrating the relationship between OSAS and arrhythmias, but there remains a lack of an interventional randomized trial to demonstrate that by treating OSAS we can reduce arrhythmia burden.

Summary

OSAS is a highly prevalent illness in western countries and is clearly related to an increase in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Cardiac arrhythmias are triggered by a repetitive hypoxemia, hypercapnia, acidosis, intrathoracic pressure fluctuations, reoxygenation, and arousals during apnea and hypopnea episodes. Early diagnosis and treatment of these patients can reduce further cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arrhythmia Unit, Cardiology Department, Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Julio Martí-Almor, Jesús Jiménez-López, Benjamin Casteigt, Javier Conejos & Ermengol Valles

  2. Heart Failure Unit, Cardiology Department, Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Heart Diseases Biomedical Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain

    Núria Farré

  3. Multidisciplinary Unit of Sleep Medicine, Parc de salut Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Miquel Félez Flor

Authors
  1. Julio Martí-Almor
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Correspondence to Julio Martí-Almor.

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Martí-Almor, J., Jiménez-López, J., Casteigt, B. et al. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome as a Trigger of Cardiac Arrhythmias. Curr Cardiol Rep 23, 20 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-021-01445-y

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