The role of continuous positive airway pressure in the treatment of hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypoapnea syndrome: a review of randomized trials.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypoapnea syndrome (OSA) is a disorder that results in repetitive occlusion of the airway and hypoxemia during sleep. Epidemiologic studies have associated this disorder with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Systemic hypertension is prevalent among patients with OSA and has been recognized as a common identifiable cause of hypertension.