What echocardiographic finding is associated with OSA?

The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and increased pulmonary artery pressure is well-documented in medical literature. In OSA, the intermittent episodes of arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia lead to increased vascular resistance in the pulmonary circulation. This can ultimately result in pulmonary hypertension, which is characterized by elevated pressures in the pulmonary arteries.

Patients with OSA frequently experience increased pulmonary artery pressure due to factors such as decreased oxygen saturation during sleep, increased sympathetic nervous system activity, and resulting changes in lung mechanics. These hemodynamic alterations contribute to the development of right ventricular strain over time, and echocardiography often reveals right ventricular hypertrophy or other signs consistent with increased pressure load.

Understanding the dynamics of pulmonary circulation in the context of OSA is critical for risk stratification and the management of patients with this condition. Other echocardiographic findings, such as right atrial enlargement or left ventricular changes, may also be observed but are not as specifically associated with OSA as increased pulmonary artery pressure.