Plasma levels of adiponectin, a novel adipocyte-derived hormone, in sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obesity, sympathetic activation, systemic inflammation, and cardiovascular morbidity. Obesity, beta-adrenergic agonists, and inflammation are linked to decreased expression and/or secretion of an adipose tissue-derived antiatherogenic hormone, adiponectin. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether OSA affected plasma levels of adiponectin, which might help explain OSA-associated cardiovascular morbidity.


METHODS
We randomly selected 68 otherwise healthy male subjects, either with moderate/severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)>or=20; n=35] or without OSA (AHI<or=5; n=33). The diagnosis of OSA was made based on prospective full polysomnography. Adiponectin was measured before polysomnography between 8 and 10 pm.


RESULTS
AHI was higher in the OSA group (49.5+/-4.4 vs. 2.9+/-0.4 events/h; p<0.001). OSA subjects were also more obese, with greater BMI (33+/-1 vs. 30+/-1; p=0.016) and percentage body fat (29+/-1% vs. 26+/-1%; p=0.030). Adiponectin levels were 7.67+/-0.73 and 6.33+/-0.51 microg/mL in the OSA and non-OSA groups, respectively, and this difference was significant in covariate analysis (taking into account age, hemodynamic characteristics, measures of body fat, and OSA severity) (p=0.009). After excluding from both groups the subjects with extreme BMI, such that the OSA and non-OSA study cohorts had similar BMI and percentage body fat, subjects with OSA had significantly higher plasma adiponectin (8.49+/-0.92 vs. 6.32+/-0.55 microg/mL; p=0.042), differences also evident in covariate analysis (p=0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma adiponectin levels are elevated in otherwise healthy subjects with OSA. Therefore, low adiponectin is unlikely to explain the association between OSA and cardiovascular disease.
Wolk
Robert
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation, St. Mary's Hospital, DO-4-350, 1216 Second Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Svatikova
Anna
A
Nelson
Christy A
CA
Gami
Apoor S
AS
Govender
Kogilan
K
Winnicki
Mikolaj
M
Somers
Virend K
VK
D052242:Adiponectin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins