Mammalian cell defense mechanisms are constantly evolving in response to increasing endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress factors. In recent years, as research has deepened, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been hailed as a "star" molecule in antioxidant damage defense. Billions of dollars have been spent internationally on developing targeted activators or inhibitors. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep breathing disorder in clinical practice. Oxidative stress is one of its main pathological mechanisms and is closely related to target organ damage in the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and other systems. Recent research has revealed the mechanistic relationship of the Nrf2 pathway in OSA complications, and some natural Nrf2 activators have demonstrated emerging therapeutic effects in animal experiments. However, the activation mode and effect pathway of Nrf2 in different target organs of OSA have not been clarified. Therefore, this article reviews the research progress of the Nrf2 pathway in OSA and its complications, to deepen understanding of the mechanism of OSA complications and provide a potential treatment strategy.