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Obstructive sleep apnea associated with heightened CVD risk

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Patients with obstructive sleep apnea presented with similarly increased levels of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as individuals with diabetes, researchers found in a study presented at EUROECHO and other Imaging Modalities 2012 in Athens, Greece.

Researchers compared patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (n=20) with age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=20) and age-, sex- and CV risk factor-matched patients with type 2 diabetes (n=20). Patients with obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes were hypertensive (ambulatory BP, 149/95 mm Hg in both groups). Arterial function was measured through intima-media thickness, e-tracking and wave intensity via Young elastic modulus, beta stiffness index, arterial compliance, and first and second systolic peaks. Endothelial function was determined by flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

 

Raluca Mincu

“Patients with moderate to severe [obstructive sleep apnea] had endothelial dysfunction and higher arterial stiffness than controls, and their results were similar to patients with diabetes mellitus. This suggest that [obstructive sleep apnea] is associated with a high risk for cardiovascular disease,” wrote Raluca Mincu, MD, from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania, in a press release.

All five parameters of arterial stiffness were significantly higher in the obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes groups compared with controls. FMD was lower in these groups, indicating poorer endothelial function in these patients compared with the control group.

“Patients should realize that behind snoring there can be a serious cardiac pathology and they should get referred to a sleep specialist,” wrote Mincu. “If they are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, they are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce that risk.”

For more information:

Mincu RI. #P427. Presented at: EUROECHO 2012; Dec. 5-8, 2012; Athens, Greece.

Mincu RI. Euro J. Echocardiography Abstracts Supplement. (2012) 13 (S1) i62.

Disclosure:The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.