[Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in woman: Knowing its specificities for a better management]

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death in women. Their frequency is underestimated because of their atypical feminine clinical presentation. The pathway "heart, arteries and women", initiated at Lille's hospital center in 2013, was designed to improve pluridisciplinar approaches for women. Thus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), known as a metabolic risk factor, was studied in several works. In post-menopausal women with cardiovascular risk, frequency of OSA seems underestimated. Clinical presentation of OSA in feminine patients can be misleading, and its screening seems essential, in light of its major cardiovascular impact.