Obstructive sleeP apnea (OSA) is a disease characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleeP , resulting from the repetitive collapse of these pathways, resulting in hypoxia and sleeP fragmentation. It is a very common disorder, being more common in men, but it can also affect women and children. Its prevalence has been estimated at approximately 14% among men and 5% among women and OSA has been defined in these studies as the presence of an apnea-hypopnea index > 5 events per hour of sleeP , associated with 4% of oxygen desaturation.

OSA is associated with a significant increase in sympathetic activity during sleeP , influencing heart rate and blood pressure. The increase in the sympathetic activity is induced by a number of mechanisms, including chemoreflex stimulation by hypoxia and hypercapnia, baroreflex, endothelial dysfunction, and venous return and cardiac output alterations.

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