CPAP Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk

Despite expectations that treating obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP therapy would reduce cardiovascular risk due to the alleviation of intermittent hypoxia, recent studies have shown no significant decrease in this risk. Research conducted by Dr. Jellick and Dr. Gottlieb suggests that instead of lowering cardiovascular markers, CPAP may lead to an unexpected increase in certain inflammatory mediators, such as angiopoietin 2. This contradiction highlights the complexities of understanding how sleep apnea treatments impact overall health, particularly for patients with a history of cardiovascular events. The surprising findings challenge existing beliefs and emphasize the need for further exploration into the effects of CPAP on non-symptomatic individuals.