Metabolic syndrome

OSA is a common disorder with major cardiovascular and metabolic consequences. OSA is often associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors, and prevalence of metabolic syndrome is particularly high in OSA patients. The role of obesity as a risk factor for OSA has been shown in population and clinical studies, and increased adipose tissue volume and neck circumference are closely linked with OSA, even though major sex-related differences exist. Besides OSA treatment, cardiometabolic risk factors should be assessed and possibly corrected in all OSA patients in order to reduce adverse events. Occurrence of metabolic syndrome should be investigated, and modifiable risk factors aggressively treated especially in obese patients. Improvement of the metabolic state after OSA treatment with CPAP has been reported by some but not all studies, suggesting the need to treat additional cardiometabolic disorders and adopt strategies aimed at reducing body weight in OSA patients.