Keywords
Obstructive sleep apnea
Hypertension
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the association between obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in adults, evaluating the magnitude of this relationship and its possible contribution as an independent factor in the difficult control of blood pressure. Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted using the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and CAPES Periodicals databases, using the descriptors: "Sleep Apnea, Obstructive", "Hypertension", "Drug", and truncating the search: (Sleep Apnea, Obstructive) AND (Hypertension) AND (Drug). 2,857 articles were found, filtered according to inclusion criteria (Portuguese, English, and Spanish languages; period from 2021 to 2026; full articles) and exclusion criteria (duplicate articles, abstracts, out of scope). Results: Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with the development, maintenance, and greater severity of hypertension, especially in more advanced cases. Its mechanisms involve intermittent hypoxia, sympathetic activation, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to increased cardiovascular risk and treatment resistance. Furthermore, the identification and integrated management of OSA are fundamental to improving blood pressure control and reducing adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Obstructive sleep apnea is an important determinant and aggravating factor in hypertension. Its recognition and management are essential to optimize blood pressure control and reduce cardiovascular risk.
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