Obstructive Sleep Apnoea as an Exacerbator of Vasospastic Angina

Abstract

Little is known about the association between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and vasospastic angina. The authors report the case of a 47-year-old female with vasospastic angina who had a high symptom burden despite nitroglycerine and a calcium channel blocker. After a sleep study revealed severe OSA, the patient was started on continuous positive airway pressure. Following 8 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure, the patient reported remarkable improvement in their symptoms. This case suggests an under-recognised link between OSA and vasospastic angina. While further clinical research is required, screening and treatment of OSA may be beneficial for patients with treatment refractory vasospastic angina.