Impaired Endothelial Function in Persons With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Impact of Obesity

Jan 30, 2013
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Authors:
Namtvedt SK, Hisdal J, Randby A, et al.
Citation:
Heart 2013;99:30-34.
Summary By:
Daniel T. Eitzman, MD

Study Questions:

Does obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contribute to endothelial dysfunction independent of obesity?

Methods:

Seventy-one subjects were recruited from a population-based study in Norway. Subjects were categorized as obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2), nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m2) with OSA (apnea–hypopnea index [AHI] ≥10), or nonobese without OSA (AHI <5). Endothelial function was measured by brachial artery ultrasound and expressed as percentage of flow-mediated dilation (FMD%).

Results:

Endothelial function was found to be impaired in subjects with OSA compared to nonobese subjects without OSA (FMD%; 6.4 ± 3.2 vs. 10.1 ± 6.3; p = 0.003). FMD% did not differ between obese (6.0 ± 3.4) and nonobese (6.7 ± 3.1) OSA subjects (p = 0.3). AHI, BMI, gender, and baseline brachial artery diameter were significantly associated with FMD%. In a multivariate model, only AHI was significantly associated with FMD%.

Conclusions:

The authors concluded that OSA is associated with endothelial dysfunction independently of obesity and conventional risk factors.

Perspective:

OSA has been previously associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the relationship between OSA and CVD is confounded by obesity and other associated risk factors. Although a continuous positive airway pressure intervention arm would have been highly informative, this study lends support to a causal relationship between OSA severity and impaired endothelial function. The mechanisms responsible for this relationship will require further study.

Keywords: Body Mass Index, Norway, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, Obesity, Sleep Apnea Syndromes


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