Acute aortic dissection associated with sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is an independent risk factor for hypertension which is a major risk factor for acute aortic dissection. The purposes of this study were to assess the prevalence of SAS in patients with acute aortic dissection, delineate the characteristics of patients who have acute aortic dissection with SAS.

Methods: Of 95 consecutive patients with acute aortic dissection, 13 had episodes of sleep apnea and nocturnal hypoxemia. A portable sleep monitoring system was used to assess sleep status in the 13 patients.

Results: The SAS-positive group consisted of 12 patients (12.6%), 8 with type A dissection and 4 with type B dissection. Age was significantly lower in the SAS-positive group (47.2 ± 8.5 years) than in the SAS-negative group (64.9 ± 10.3 years)(p <0.001). The male:female ratio was significantly higher in the SAS-positive group than in the SAS-negative group (p <0.001). The body mass index was significantly greater in the SAS-positive group than in the SAS-negative group (p <0.001). All 12 patients in the SAS-positive group had hypertension.

Conclusions: Patients who have acute aortic dissection with SAS are characterized by being tall, fat, and relatively young men with hypertension. Sleep apnea syndrome may be a risk factor for acute aortic dissection in middle-aged men.