Obstructive sleep apnea, hypoxia, and metabolic syndrome in psychiatric and nonpsychiatric settings.

Obesity continues to be a serious cause of morbidity and mortality globally and particularly in North America. Primary manifestations of obesity include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and depression associated with a decrease in immune defense mechanisms, possibly related to increased cytokine levels. Secondary manisfestations of obesity possibly result from a cascade of events and include insulin resistance/ hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension-all of which comprise metabolic syndrome. This paper reviews sleep disturbances in general and OSA in psychiatric patients, particularly those who are obese.