Early evidence of increased risk for metabolic syndrome in young men with latent obstructive sleep apnea.
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by a repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep and may affect as many as 1 in 5 adults. Although OSA appears to increase risk for metabolic syndrome in middle-aged adults, no data currently exist in a younger, preclinical cohort.


METHODS
Forty-five sedentary young men: 12 overweight with OSA (OSA), 18 overweight without OSA (NOSA), and 15 normal-weight without OSA (CON). Respiratory distress index (RDI) was determined using an at-home, unsupervised, portable polygraphy device. Total and subcutaneous abdominal fat (SAF) were quantified using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Blood pressure was obtained manually via auscultation. Fasting triglycerides, glucose, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were analyzed from whole blood using a commercial lipid profile kit.


RESULTS
The OSA group had 25% more SAF than the NOSA group (P < 0.05) and higher triglycerides (136.7 +/- 21.3 mg/dL versus 92.2 +/- 7.5, P < 0.05). RDI was directly related to fasting triglycerides (R = 0.32, P < 0.05) after controlling for SAF. The number of metabolic syndrome components was directly correlated to indices of adiposity, but not RDI. Using multiple linear regression analysis, triglycerides were the only independent predictor of RDI.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study demonstrate that unique physiologic and anthropometric abnormalities exist in young men with occult OSA, beyond those that are seen in uncomplicated obesity. These findings may indicate early pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in these young men.
Guill
Stephen
S
Laboratory for Health and Exercise Science, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
Hargens
Trent
T
Nickols-Richardson
Sharon
S
Bassaganya-Riera
Josep
J
Miller
Larry
L
Zedalis
Don
D
Gregg
John
J
Gwazdauskas
Frank
F
Herbert
William
W
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D050177:Overweight; D012306:Risk; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL