Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea（OSA） is a common sleep-disordered disease which is characterized by repetitive narrowing or occlusion of the pharynx causing intermittent hypoxia, repetitive arousals, sleep deprivation, and excessive daytime sleepiness. OSA can contribute to atherosclerosis through direct and indirect mechanisms. Animal and clinical studies have shown a close relationship between OSA and atherosclerosis and its risk factors. However, current studies showed inconsistent results. In the future, further research both basic and clinical studies need to be fulfilled. Future studies are needed to investigate underlying mechanisms between OSA and atherosclerosis.