Beyond heart health: Consequences of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition associated with impaired quality of life, depression, drowsy driving and motor vehicle accidents, metabolic disease, and cognitive decline. The mechanisms accounting for OSA and metabolic disease include hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and systemic inflammation. OSA appears to advance cognitive decline, and the relationship between the 2 conditions may be bidirectional. Treatment of patients with continuous positive air pressure therapy improves many of the impaired outcomes associated with OSA. Greater awareness, screening, and treatment of patients with OSA can reduce the negative consequences associated with OSA.