Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is the most preferred treatment modality for adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Among all types of NIPPV, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most popular one. Clinical trials have demonstrated that quite a few ischemic heart diseases (IHD) patients had OSAHS coexisted simultaneously, and these patients showed significant improvement in cardiac function after CPAP treatment. Besides, their cardiac structure displayed partial reversible changes. These findings made the association between OSAHS and IHD be a hot topic worthy of our thorough investigation. In order to further strengthen the understanding of this condition in respiratory physicians and cardiologists, we reviewed the progress in CPAP in the diagnosis and treatment of IHD patients with coexisting OSAHS.