Nocturnal blood pressure decline may be more disturbed by ahi (apnea-hypopnea index) during REM sleep than during nREM sleep

Introduction: Absence of blood pressure decline during nocturnal sleep, known as non-dipping, is one of the findings associated with sympathetic activation induced by obstructive respiratory events in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. This blood pressure non-dipping is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage, sympathetic activity increases abruptly. Therefore, obstructive respiratory events during REM sleep may have more profound effects on nocturnal blood pressure non-dipping than obstructive events during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

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