Inflammatory markers in middle-aged obese subjects: does obstructive sleep apnea syndrome play a role?
BACKGROUND
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is associated with inflammation, but obesity may be a confounding factor. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore differences in serum levels of inflammation markers between obese individuals with or without OSAS.


METHODS
Healthy individuals (n = 61) from an outpatient obesity clinic were examined by polysomnography and blood analysis, for measurement of TNF-alpha, IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen levels. According to Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), participants were divided into two BMI-matched groups: controls (AHI < 15/h, n = 23) and OSAS patients (AHI > or = 15/h, n = 38).


RESULTS
OSAS patients had significantly higher TNF-alpha levels (P < .001) while no other difference in the examined inflammation markers was recorded between groups. Overall, TNF-alpha levels were correlated with neck circumference (P < .001), AHI (P = .002), and Oxygen Desaturation Index (P = .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Obese OSAS patients have elevated TNF-alpha levels compared to BMI-matched controls, suggesting a role of OSAS in promoting inflammation, possibly mediated by TNF-a.
Steiropoulos
Paschalis
P
Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. pstirop@med.duth.gr
Papanas
Nikolaos
N
Nena
Evangelia
E
Antoniadou
Maria
M
Serasli
Evangelia
E
Papoti
Sophia
S
Hatzizisi
Olga
O
Kyriazis
Georgios
G
Tzouvelekis
Argyris
A
Maltezos
Efstratios
E
Tsara
Venetia
V
Bouros
Demosthenes
D
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein