Epidemiology of Sleep-Disordered Breathing: Lessons from the Sleep Heart Health Study

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a chronic condition characterized by partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The resulting apneas and hypopneas often lead to a reduction in oxyhemoglobin saturation and recurrent arousals from sleep. Aside from the obvious complaints of daytime fatigue and excessive sleepiness, SDB is associated with impaired cognitive function, poor work performance, increased risk for motor vehicle accidents, and a constellation of problems in daily living that diminish quality of life. The Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) was established to answer many of the pressing questions regarding the clinical consequences of SDB, particularly its effects on hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The primary objective of this article is to review briefly the scientific progress made by the SHHS over the last decade.