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Vol. 45. Issue 5.
Pages 240-244 (May 2009)
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Vol. 45. Issue 5.
Pages 240-244 (May 2009)
Review article
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Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome Without Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Síndrome de apneas-hipoapneas durante el sueño sin somnolencia
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Concepción Hernández García
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
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Abstract

Nowadays, sleepiness in patients with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is understandable. It is somewhat more difficult to explain why most patients with SAHS enrolled in epidemiologic studies, even those with a high apnea-hypopnea index, do not experience excessive daytime sleepiness. The reasons for this discrepancy lie beyond mere polysomnographic events.

This review examines data from the literature that may help us understand why these patients do not experience daytime sleepiness. It also analyzes studies that support and refute sleepiness as a marker of cardiovascular risk in patients with SAHS, and discusses the mechanisms that might increase this risk.

Keywords:
Sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS)
Sleepiness
Cardiovascular risk
Resumen

La presencia de somnolencia en pacientes con síndrome de apneas-hipopneas durante el sueño (SAHS) resulta en la actualidad comprensible. Más difícil de explicar es que la mayoría de los pacientes con SAHS incluidos en estudios epidemiológicos, incluso aquellos con un alto índice de apneas-hipopneas, no presente excesiva somnolencia diurna. Los motivos van más allá de los simples eventos polisomnográficos. En este artículo se repasarán los datos de la literatura médica que pueden ayudar a comprender la falta de excesiva somnolencia diurna en estos pacientes. Además, se analizarán los estudios que defienden y niegan que la somnolencia en pacientes con SAHS sea un marcador de riesgo cardiovascular y los mecanismos por los que pudiera aumentar este riesgo.

Palabras clave:
Síndrome de apneas-hipopneas del sueño (SAHS)
Somnolencia
Riesgo cardiovascular
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