Cardiovascular diseases and sleep-disordered breathing have been recognized as a public health problem in Mexico and worldwide. These two groups of disorders are closely associated and the evidence accumulated over the last 25 years indicates that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor in systemic arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease and stroke. Other associations have also been described, linking these disorders with pulmonary hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, sudden death during sleep and congestive heart failure. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure in patients with OSAS has proven to be an efficient primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention strategy. This article reviews the epidemiological evidence that links OSAS with increased cardiovascular risk, and proposes strategies designed to address this growing health problem.