title: Use of continuous positive airway pressure for sleep apnea in the treatment of hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension are highly prevalent and treatable conditions that often coexist and both contribute to an increased cardiovascular risk. The ability of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to improve blood pressure in hypertensive patients with OSA is debated. This review highlights findings from recent studies that have investigated the impact of CPAP on blood pressure in patients with OSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the results of various studies is complicated by important methodological differences among them. In hypertensive patients with OSA, treatment with CPAP improves blood pressure to a smaller degree than that derived from antihypertensive medication. Patients with more severe OSA and with greater adherence to CPAP are likely to gain the most benefit from the therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CPAP should be used in combination with antihypertensive medications in hypertensive patients with OSA. CPAP has the additional benefits of restoring nocturnal dipping and improving arterial stiffness, thus potentially influencing cardiovascular morbidity in these high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Denker
authors.forename: Debbie L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents