Complicações e conseqüências da apnéia obstrutiva do sono. Complications and consequences of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a complex disease, which frequently links and interacts with other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and erectile dysfunction. There is an independent association between sleep apnea and systemic hypertension. This disease has been strongly associated with several cardiovascular disorders. Sleep apnea is also associated with pulmonary hypertension, neurocognitive effects, depressed quality of life, and motor vehicle accidents. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is higher in patients with sleep apnea than in obese subjects without OSA. The first-line treatment of moderate to severe OSAS is continuous positive airway pressure. The correct use of continuous positive airway pressure reduces the severity of the several sleep apnea complications.