Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica (Jul 2011)

The rheological properties of blood and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)

  • Władysław Pierzchała,
  • Marcin Kawalski,
  • Ludmiła Słowińska,
  • Maciej Tażbirek

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5603/4114
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 49, no. 2
pp. 206 – 210

Abstract

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an important public health concern, which affects around 2–4% of the population. Left untreated, it causes a decrease not only in quality of life, but also of life expectancy. Despite the fact that knowledge about the mechanisms of development of cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA is still incomplete, observations confirm a relationship between sleep disordered breathing and the rheological properties of blood. One possible consequence of an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease may be a rise in mortality in OSA patients. Continuously improved research methods are allowing for an increasingly more accurate understanding of the significance of observed changes. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011, Vol. 49, No. 2, 206–210)

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