Sleep Apnea Increases Risk Of Cardiovascular Complications In Women

New findings published in the journal Circulation show how sleep apnea may increase the risk of cardiovascular complications in women.

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that sex-specific differences exist due to the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. More specifically, researchers discovered that sleep apnea was linked to higher blood levels of troponin (hs-TnT)--a marker that provides information on early evidence of heart injury, according to a news release. 

In this recent study, researchers collected data on over 1,600 people who were free of heart disease. Participants were followed for an average of 14 years.

At the beginning of the study, 23 percent of men and 10 percent had been undiagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Over a 14 years of follow up, 46 percent of the men and 32 percent of the women dealt with a significant adverse cardiac event, enlarged heart or even death.

Furthermore, those with severe sleep apnea were 30 percent more likely to experience adverse heart problems when compared to counterparts without the health issue. However, researchers did not find the link to be true in men, suggesting that other factors influence their health issue-including risk of obesity, age, diabetes and hypertension.

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