Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a clinical syndrome characterized by repetitive closure of the airway and frequent awakenings during sleep. Repeated episodes of hypoxia, decrease in intrathoracic pressure, increased venous return and venous stasis, damage to vascular wall may ensue. An increased tendency for coagulation has also been reported in OSA. Venous stasis, vascular endothelial activation and hypercoagulability are also known risk factors for thromboembolism. All of these pathophysiologic changes in OSA may predispose patients for the development of pulmonary embolism (PE) however there is limited data about role of thromboembolic events in OSA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All consecutive patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism

Exclusion Criteria:

• less than 18 years of age
• any restrictive or obstructive lung disease

All subjects admitted to Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Gaziantep University who were diagnosed to have PE were included in the study group. Control group consisted of age and sex matched subjects without a clinic consistent with PE referred to the Sleep Clinic. PE was diagnosed when one or more of the following was present: compatible physical examination findings and multislice CT angiography or presence of deep venous thrombus (DVT) in addition to high risk with Wells criteria [5]. Subjects with any restrictive/obstructive lung pathology or younger than 18 years old were excluded.