Open AccessResistant arterial hypertension and sleep apnea syndrome
Author(s) -
Camelia Cristina Diaconu,
G. Dediu,
Mădălina Ilie,
Mihaela Adela Iancu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
romanian medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2069-606X
pISSN - 1220-5478
DOI - 10.37897/rmj.2015.4.10
Subject(s) - medicine , obstructive sleep apnea , blood pressure , risk factor , ambulatory blood pressure , continuous positive airway pressure , cardiology , polysomnography , sleep apnea , obesity , comorbidity , body mass index , resistant hypertension , apnea
Arterial hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with increasing incidence and prevalence. Diagnosis of resistant hypertension may be established when the values of blood pressure are ≥ 140/90 mmHg, despite lifestyle changes and treatment with three antihypertensive drugs from different therapeutic classes, one being a diuretic. One common comorbidity in patients with resistant hypertension is obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity, defined as a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, is a common risk factor linking the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with resistant hypertension. The diagnosis of OSAS in patients with resistant hypertension is made by polysomnography. For the confirmation of diagnosis of resistant hypertension it is necessary the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, which allows the exclusion of false cases of resistant hypertension, white coat or masked hypertension. Treatment of OSAS with CPAP (continuos positive airway pressure) offers improvement of blood pressure values and better control of resistant hypertension, reducing the cardiovascular risk.