Epicardial fat accumulation is an independent marker of impaired heart rate recovery in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Sympathetic nervous system activation plays a pivotal role in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), contributing to increased cardiovascular risk. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) activates cardiac autonomic nervous system. Our main study objective was to investigate effects of these autonomic dysfunction factors on post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR). 36 patients, referred for clinical assessment of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2),...