Sleep Apnea and its Association with the Stress System, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance and Visceral Obesity

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition characterized by repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep leading to significant hypoxemia and recurrent arousals from sleep. OSA is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Four percent of adult men and two percent of adult women in general population random samples meet the current clinical and polysomnographic criteria for the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Obesity is the most important reversible risk factor for OSA. In this article, the authors review knowledge accumulated during the last 10 years about sleep apnea and its association with the stress system, inflammation, insulin resistance and visceral obesity.