title: Patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein need priority treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical factors predicting the significantly elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations, defined herein as hs-CRP > or = 3 mg/L, in adult males with untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five consecutive male patients with newly diagnosed OSAS were enrolled to receive complete medical history review, physical examination, in-laboratory overnight polysomnography, and hs-CRP test. The patients had no current or history of cardiovascular disease. The patients had a mean age of 38.2 +/- 9.9 years, body mass index (BMI) of 27.4 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) of 11.3 +/- 4.6. The serum levels of hs-CRP were assessed using peripheral venous blood samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three percent of the overall patients had significantly elevated serum levels of hs-CRP. The increase of hs-CRP correlated fairly with BMI, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), tonsil size, and ESS (r = 0.450, 0.398, 0.393, and 0.300, respectively; all P < or = 0.05) after adjustment for conventional coronary heart disease risk factors. However, only the AHI could predict for significantly elevated hs-CRP after stepwise multiple linear regression (R(2) = 0.251, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients in this study with hs-CRP > or = 3 mg/L were more prevalent in the severe OSAS group. This observation suggests that the severe OSAS patients need to have their cardiovascular statuses evaluated by use of an hs-CRP screening test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Ang
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ning-Hung
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chung-Guei
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shih-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tuan-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hsueh-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017286:Polysomnography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein