As many of us are aware, OSA is associated with hypertension, AFib, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and stroke. The number of men and women diagnosed with Sleep Apnea (twice as many men as women) has increased over the last 20 years. Statistically, 50% of OSA patients are hypertensive, 30% of hypertensive patients have OSA, and 71% of all patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease have OSA. Cardiologists are becoming more and more aware of the warning signs and the relationship between cardiovascular diseases and sleep disorders. This association of comorbidities presents an opportunity for physicians to identify patients with OSA and participate in their diagnosis and treatment plan.
There has been immense growth in recent years with HSAT monitors as opposed to traditional in-lab testing. Many patients refuse a sleep study because they do not want to sleep in a lab. Not only are home sleep studies cost effective, but they provide a streamlined method for diagnosis and treatment.
Therefore, cardiologists can easily incorporate home sleep testing into their practices.
We need to remember that 1 in 4 deaths from cardiovascular disease is preventable with healthy lifestyle changes and better management of associated co-morbidities linked to OSA. How we can utilize these findings to provide optimal patient care?
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