title: Intima-media thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea without comorbidities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular events. The early stages of vascular complications can be visualized by means of ultrasound. Intima-media thickness (IMT) correlates with the presence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, tobacco smoking, or hyperlipidemia. However, little is known whether OSA itself may be the cause of IMT thickening.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group was composed of 28 patients (6 women, 22 men; mean age = 53.8 years, mean BMI = 27.1 kg/m(2), mean AHI = 22.4/h) with OSA who had no comorbidities. The control group consisted of 28 healthy subjects (6 women, 22 men; mean age = 53.9 years; mean BMI = 27.5 kg/m(2)). In both groups IMT was assessed in common carotid arteries with the use of ultrasonography. Additionally, in patients with OSA, pulse wave velocity, echocardiography, 24-h automated blood pressure monitoring, clinical signs and symptoms, and blood tests were performed to investigate possible correlations with IMT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median IMT was 0.41 mm in OSA patients and 0.46 mm in the control group (p = 0.087). Echocardiography revealed left ventricle hypertrophy in 21%, systolic disorders in 8%, and diastolic disorders in 57% of the patients. In a large majority of patients, pulse wave velocity was found to be normal. IMT correlated with age (r = 0.446, p = 0.017), total cholesterol (r = 0.518, p = 0.005), daytime systolic blood pressure (r = 0.422, p = 0.025), pulse pressure 24 h and daytime (r = 0.424, p = 0.027 and r = 0.449, p = 0.019), early mitral flow/atrial mitral flow (E/A) (r = -0.429, p = 0.023), and posterior wall diameter (PWD) (r = 0.417, p = 0.270).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a relatively nonobese group of patients, no significant differences were found in the intima-media thickness between OSA patients without concomitant cardiovascular diseases and healthy controls. This may lead to the conclusion that IMT does not reflect increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with isolated OSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Debinki 7, 80-952, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorzewska
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Specjalski
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drozdowski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunicka
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Świerblewska
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bieniaszewski
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Słomiński
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jassem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*