Abstract:
Introduction. Sleep apnea (SA) is a major public health problem, with 5% prevalence of the
active population aged between 30 and 60 years - 2% females and 4% males with severe
cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and metabolic consequences. SA is found in 30% of
hypertensive persons, in 19-20% of patients with myocardial infarction history; in 18 - 42%
cases patients have cardiac arrhythmias: sleep association with marked sinus arrhythmias (93%),
extreme sinusal bradycardias (40%), asistolias (33%), atrioventricular blocks (13%), ventricular
arrhythmias (66%) and TV (13%), and ventricular extrasystoles (40%). Approximately 80% of
patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are overweight or obese.
