Objectives and benefits

The main objectives of the Action are:

(i)? To assess the role of OSAS as a possible cause of increased cardiovascular risk. Collaboration among different countries will provide a critical mass of data in both untreated and treated patients, and result in the development of guidelines on preventive measures;

(ii)? To coordinate studies on pathogenetic mechanisms of increased cardiovascular risk of OSAS (i.e., inflammation, oxidative stress, en othelial dysfunction, metabolic derangements, altered autonomic control associated with exposure to intermittent hypoxia).? These studies will highlight possible factors susceptible of correction by therapy.

Secondary objectives are to promote exchanges between groups in the following fields:

-?Diagnosis of OSAS and patient management: guidelines exists on diagnosis of OSAS, but evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors is not routinely performed in OSAS patients. The joint effort of several groups will be helpful in setting up a useful and cost-effective European protocol to longitudinally evaluate cardiovascular risk in OSAS patients;

-?Excessive daytime somnolence (EDS) and medicolegal implications of OSAS: Problems still exist on the assessment of EDS in OSAS. OSAS increases the risk of car accidents, but legislation differently addresses the problem throughout Europe. The European Network would contribute to develop guidelines and promote their application in European countries. In this respect, the COST Action will be complementary to the ongoing FP6 Integrated Project on sleepiness entitled: ?Advanced sensor development for attention, stress, vigilance and sleep/wakefulness monitoring? (acronym: SENSATION, project number: 507231);

Epidemiology and genetics of OSAS: different groups in Europe are studying patient and general population cohorts. Some laboratories are working on genetics of OSAS, in an effort to identify factors predisposing to the disease and/or its cardiovascular complications. Coordination of epidemiological research in the general population can improve our knowledge on subclinical OSAS, and yield information on the disease in groups such as children, women or the elderly.

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