Vol 49, No 2 (2011)
Review paper
Published online: 2011-07-11
The rheological properties of blood and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0028
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(2):206-210.
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an important public health concern, which affects around 2–4% of
the population. Left untreated, it causes a decrease not only in quality of life, but also of life expectancy. Despite
the fact that knowledge about the mechanisms of development of cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA is
still incomplete, observations confirm a relationship between sleep disordered breathing and the rheological
properties of blood. One possible consequence of an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease may be a rise
in mortality in OSA patients. Continuously improved research methods are allowing for an increasingly more
accurate understanding of the significance of observed changes. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011, Vol.
49, No. 2, 206–210)
Keywords: obstructive sleep apneahemorheologyblood viscosityerythrocyte deformabilitycardiovascular diseases
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