Respiratory and Autonomic Plasticity Following Intermittent Hypoxia
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea is high in the Veteran population. If not treated
promptly, sleep apnea may result in daytime fatigue which may lead to increased prevalence of
accidents while driving or in the workplace. Recent large scale epidemiological studies have
shown that the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness increases in individuals who suffer
from obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea may also result in the development of
hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. Previous findings have shown that subjects
with sleep apnea have a greater risk for developing coronary vascular disease compared to
individuals that do not suffer from sleep apnea Thus, a significant amount of evidence
suggests that sleep apnea is a major health concern in the Veteran population. Consequently,
determining the mechanisms that may impact on the severity of sleep apnea and increase the
prevalence of cardiovascular incidents associated with this disorder is important, as is
discovering novel treatments.