Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a chronic disorder characterised by the periodic cessation or shallowing of breathing during sleep due to the collapse of the soft tissues of the throat. It is associated with episodes of reduced blood oxygen saturation and periods of micro-awakenings. The prevalence of OSA is increasing in obese individuals, men, and the elderly.

Methods. A retrospective study was conducted between 2022 and 2023, analysing data from 57 patients with hypertension and coexisting obstructive sleep apnea. The patients were divided into two groups: a study group with moderate/severe sleep apnoea (n=26) and a control group without apnoea/mild sleep apnoea (n=31). The demographic data, respiratory parameters obtained from a sleep polygraph, and information on comorbidities were analysed. The aim of this study was to compare the groups in terms of respiratory parameters and comorbidities.

Results: The group with moderate/severe sleep apnoea exhibited significantly elevated desaturation values (mean 4.97 vs 3.84; p < 0.001), a longer duration of a single apnoeic episode (mean 19.85 vs. 16.50 seconds: p=0.002), and a higher percentage of snoring (28.25 vs 12.00; p<0.001) compared to the second group. The presence of any chronic disease in patients with hypertension and OSA (e.g. hyperlipidaemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, stable coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, renal disease, heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction, and the presence of aortic aneurysm) was found to increase the severity of the apnoea--hypopnoea index (AHI) fourfold.

Conclusions: Patients with hypertension and moderate/severe sleep apnoea exhibit diminished respiratory performance during sleep. A correlation was identified between the severity of the AHI and the presence of the aforementioned chronic diseases in this group of patients, which may result in significant complications and necessitate more aggressive treatment.