title: Correlation between the intima-media thickness and Framingham risk score in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, we want to demonstrate the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) whose independent effect on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was demonstrated, with Framingham risk score (FRS) showing the overall cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  IMT of the carotid artery was measured with ultrasonography and 10-year risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) was defined with FRS in 90 consecutive patients referred to our sleep clinic and who underwent polysomnography (PSG), with vascular risk factors and without a clinical atherosclerotic disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IMT and FRS were found to be statistically significantly increased in the severe OSAS group compared to the other two groups. Carotid IMT was found to be significantly positively correlated with, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and time duration with oxygen saturation (SpO2) <90%, and negatively correlated with minimum oxygen saturation at sleep (minimum SpO2) and mean SpO2. In control and mild OSAS group IMT and FRS have significantly positive correlation (r: 0.501, P: 0.027; r: 0.625, P<0.001), while in severe OSAS group no significant correlation was detected between IMT and FRS (r: 0.321, P: 0.06). In the regression analysis AHI and ODI were found to be an independent predictor of carotid IMT. ODI was found to have an independent effect on the progression of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased carotid IMT in severe OSAS group could not be explained with the classical risk factors. In this respect, FRS might be insufficient to determine correctly the cardiovascular risk and protection strategies against the disease in OSAS patients.
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Sleep Laboratory, İstanbul, Turkey;
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Işık
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Conkbayır
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Aslıhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuru
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Hikmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fırat
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Sleep Laboratory, İstanbul, Turkey;
authors.forename: Sinem Nedime
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sökücü
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Sleep Laboratory, İstanbul, Turkey;
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Recai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ergün
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Cağla Pınar
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Uzunmehmetoğlu
authors.affiliation: Occupational Disease Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ergün
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Sadık
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardıc
keywords: Carotid artery; Framingham risk score (FRS); sleep apnea