Is the aortic root dilated in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome?
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with an increased risk of arterial hypertension (AH), coronary artery disease, atrial arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke and death. Whether OSAS influences aortic root size has not been fully investigated. The aim of our study was to investigate aortic root diameter and aortic stiffness in OSAS.


METHODS
Using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, we evaluated 76 patients with OSAS (mean age 52.7 +/- 9.5 years, 70 men [92%]) with no overt cardiovascular disease. The following parameters were measured offline: aortic diameter at Valsalva sinuses, aortic regurgitation (AR) grade, left ventricular (LV) mass, LV ejection fraction (LVEF, Simpson rule), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP). Aortic stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, PWV) was measured non-invasively using SphygmoCor technology.


RESULTS
Mean duration of OSAS was four years and 84% of patients were being treated with continuous positive airway pressure. AH was documented in 39 (51%) patients. The mean aortic root diameter was 35.3 +/- 3.8 mm (26.9-44.6 mm) and the prevalence of aortic root dilatation was 3.9% (3 of 76 patients). On univariate analysis, age and sex were significant predictors of aortic root dilatation whereas arterial hypertension was not.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of aortic root enlargement was not increased in OSAS. Only age and sex and not arterial hypertension, were associated with aortic dilatation.
Meuleman
Catherine
C
Department of Cardiology, Saint-Antoine University and Medical School, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, 184, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, 75571 Paris cedex 12, France.
Boccara
Franck
F
Nguyen
Xuan-Lan
XL
Di Angelantonio
Emanuele
E
Ederhy
Stéphane
S
Janower
Sandra
S
Dufaitre
Ghislaine
G
Haddour
Nabila
N
Boyer-Chatenet
Louise
L
Rakotonanahary
Dominique
D
Fleury
Bernard
B
Cohen
Ariel
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*