Obstructive sleep apnea and peripheral vascular disease: a systematic review based on current literature.

Eleven prospective cohorts qualified for inclusion with N = 63,642 (M = 28,062, F = 35,494). All studies evaluated OSA severity primarily with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values. The overall prevalence of PAD was 20.5% (N = 13,068). Except for two studies, all studies reported an increased prevalence of OSA in patients with PAD. OSA severity was not found to have an association with poor ankle brachial index values or increasing daytime sleepiness as measured by Epworth sleepiness scale. Further prospective clinical trials are required to further delineate this finding.