Sleep apnea is common in individuals who receive a kidney transplant and is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke. Researchers found kidney transplant patients are just as likely to have this sleep disorder as dialysis patients who are on the transplant waiting list. Therefore, both types of patients who have sleep apnea should be considered at high risk for developing serious heart-related complications.
 
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in individuals who receive kidney transplants, and doctors monitor transplant recipients for high blood pressure and other signs of heart trouble. According to the researchers, physicians should screen transplant and dialysis patients for obstructive sleep apnea and offer appropriate treatment. The article appears in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).   

This article originally appeared in the January 2010 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.