Mount Sinai Medical Center, One East 100 th Street, New York, NY 10029, USA.
The obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common disorder, estimated to occur in 4% of males and 2% of females in the workforce. This incidence increases with age. Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea is responsible for acute and chronic heart disease, but is a readily treatable disorder that is both underdiagnosed and underappreciated in health care. Because the cardiac consequences of untreated sleep apnea are so profound and the treatment relatively simple, the disorder needs to be recognized more frequently.