Obstructive sleep apnea and dyslipidemia.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repetitive partial or complete upper airway obstruction that lead to hemodynamic changes, arousals from sleep and intermittent hypoxia. Obstructive sleep apnea activates multiple pathways that lead to vascular disease. The vascular risk imposed by obstructive sleep apnea may be mediated through the metabolic consequences of sleep-disordered breathing. There is increasing evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a well known vascular risk factor. However, the role of obstructive sleep apnea in causality of dyslipidemia remains to be established. Current article focuses on possible mechanisms linking obstructive sleep apnea with the development of dyslipidemia. Possible role of obstructive sleep apnea as a therapeutic target to improve dyslipidemia is also discussed. Key words: dyslipidemia - obstructive sleep apnea.