Background and objective: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent and associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. Endothelial dysfunction is the proposed causative mechanism. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is presumed to improve cardiovascular outcome in OSA. CPAP withdrawal was recently shown to lead to peripheral endothelial dysfunction. However, it is not known whether short-term CPAP withdrawal reduces myocardial perfusion in OSA. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled study, 45 patients with moderate to severe OSA previously adherent to CPAP were assigned to either subtherapeutic or continuing therapeutic CPAP for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was adenosine-induced myocardial blood flow (MBF) as a measure of endothelial function, assessed by
Simulated OSA induces APBs which may be important in patients with PAF, because the majority of episodes of PAF has been shown to be triggered by APBs. Simulated OSA leads to a significant prolongation of ventricular repolarization.
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