The Use of Precision Medicine to Manage Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment in Patients with Resistant Hypertension: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Sapiña E, Torres G, Barbé F, Sánchez-de-la-Torre M. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2018 Jun 8;20(7):60.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The significant prevalence of resistant hypertension (RH) and the high cardiovascular risk of the population of patients with RH have indicated the necessity to identify its main causes. Among these, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is considered the most well-established cause.

RECENT FINDINGS: In recent years, several studies have shown a beneficial effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on blood pressure (BP), but this effect exhibits great variability. The diagnosis and management of OSA in patients with RH suggest a clinical option for a phenotype of patients for whom therapeutic strategies are limited to pharmaceutical therapy and renal denervation. However, the great variability in the CPAP response has increased the necessity to develop instruments to identify patients who could benefit from a treatment that reduces BP. Application of precision medicine to these patients should be considered as a first-line intervention to avoid the prescription of ineffective treatments and excessive consumption of pharmacological drugs that do not ameliorate the cardiovascular risk.