SLEEP DISORDERS

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that affects 2 % to 10% of the general North American population and is asso-ciated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mor-bidity and mortality. 1 OSA is associated with an increased risk of atrial fi brillation, 2 coronary artery disease, 3 congestive heart failure, 4 cerebrovascular disease, 5 and increased risk of sudden cardiac death during sleep. 6 In addition to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), both systolic and diastolic dysfunction have been observed in patients with OSA. 7-9 Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is used as the primary treatment modality for patients with OSA. 10 There is a correlation between regular CPAP use and a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity in patients with preexisting heart failure. 1 Improve