According to Newsmax, a new study reveals that almost half of the patients who undergo angioplasty develop sleep apnea.

“Sleep apnea is at epidemic proportions,” said Dr. Crandall, author of the Heart Health Report. “This study shows that all heart patients should be screened for sleep apnea.”

The study involved 1,305 patients who underwent successful angioplasty procedures for heart attack or chest pain. They underwent overnight sleep studies to check for sleep apnea.

“Our findings, in a large, multicenter sample of patients, reinforce the known association between OSA [obstructive sleep apnea] and cardiovascular disease,” said study author Luciano Drager, M.D., of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine.