Complications of Obstructive Sleep Apnea / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

While obstructive sleep apnea is a well-known sleep disorder, undiagnosed and untreated patients are an enormous burden in Korea. An episode of obstructive sleep apnea can induce dramatic changes in hemodynamics, leading to desaturation/reperfusion injury. Many complications follow episodes of obstructive sleep apnea and result in cardiovascular and other diseases, such as hypertension, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impotence, and even cancer mortality. Consequently, the role of physicians in detecting, treating, and educating patients about obstructive sleep apnea becomes more important.