OSA might be why some patients cannot get their hypertension under optimal control, reports Medscape.

“We found an association between severe untreated obstructive sleep apnea and resistant elevated BP, despite the use of antihypertensive medications in patients who have cardiovascular risk or cardiovascular disease,” Dr Walia said.

“If someone has high BP and it is resistant to antihypertensive medication, this should be one of the warning signs telling the physician to screen that patient for severe obstructive sleep apnea,” she said.