Berlin Questionnaire For Sleep Apnoea syndrome: risk Factors For High Score

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep. Sleep fragmentation determined by the recurrence of sleep apnea is the cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Each apnea episode is associated with a reduction of the oxygen concentration in the blood and with oscillations of heart rate and of systemic arterial and pulmonary pressures, that can cause permanent breathing problems and hypertension. Compared to the general population, patients with OSAS have an over two-fold risk of developing hypertension and cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases.