CPAP therapy induces favorable short-term changes in epicardial fat thickness and vascular and metabolic markers in apparently healthy subjects with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is an independent risk factor for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. Epicardial fat has been recently recognized as a new risk factor and active participant on cardiometabolic risk. The aim of this study was to assess an independent relationship between sleep apnea severity, metabolic and vascular markers, and epicardial fat, at baseline and after 3 months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.