Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances and ST-Segment Depression Episodes in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome and Its Mechanisms*

Patients with OSAHS have a higher frequency of cardiac rhythm disturbances and ST-segment depression episodes than snoring and control subjects. Moreover, ST-segment changes are related to sympathetic tone and sleep fragmentation, whereas most of the rhythm disturbances in patients with OSAHS are associated with sleep fragmentation, nocturnal hypoxemia, and sympathetic tone.