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The differences of carotid atherosclerosis among non-OSAHS and OSAHS patients of different severities: a cross-sectional study

  • Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article
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Abstract

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a widely prevalent problem with many complications, such as hypertension and cerebral vascular diseases. Atherosclerosis, whose most severe outcome is ischemic stroke, is reported being affected by OSAHS. The objective of this article is to investigate the differences of carotid atherosclerosis patients with or without OSAHS by a cross-sectional research.

Materials and methods

Patients diagnosed with carotid atherosclerosis by ultrasonography were recruited. They were requested to fill the primary screening OSAHS questionnaire. Patients with high tendency of OSAHS underwent polysomnography (PSG) tests into OSAHS group, and patients without OSAHS were into non-OSAHS group. Blood tests and medical history were collected. Carotid atherosclerosis severity was analyzed by carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid plaque, blood flow velocity, etc. Differences between the two groups and subgroups were analyzed.

Results

A total of 242 carotid atherosclerosis patients were enrolled including 118 non-OSAHS patients (38 males and 80 females) and 124 OSAHS patients (40 mild, 32 moderate, and 52 severe). Significant differences were found in PSV-ICA and EDV-ICA on both sides (p < 0.05) but no significant differences on IMT and velocity of CCV. CA patients with OSAHS were younger than ones without OSAHS. With the severity of OSAHS increasing, the age of CA patients decreased. The more severity of OSAHS, the younger the patients were. There were no significant differences in comparing cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, and glucose.

Conclusion

As far as CIMT, carotid plaque, blood flow velocity, and blood lipid are concerned, the severity of CA is not affected by the severity of OSAHS accordantly. The relationship between OSAHS and CA may not be dose dependent.

Trial registration

This study has been registered on clinical trials (No. NCT03665818).

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Funding

This study was funded by the Chinese Stomatological Association Oral Diseases and Systematic Diseases Special Fund (No. CSA-Z2015-06)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Stomatology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Changchunjie Street No.45, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100053, People’s Republic of China

    Zeliang Hao, Lu Qin, Junyao Tong & Ying Zhao

  2. Department of Vascular Ultrasonography, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Na Li

  3. Sleep Medical Center of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Yi Zhai

Authors
  1. Zeliang Hao
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  2. Lu Qin
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  3. Junyao Tong
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  4. Na Li
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  5. Yi Zhai
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  6. Ying Zhao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ying Zhao.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Ethics Committee of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University (No. Clinical-Research-Review [2016]039) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Hao, Z., Qin, L., Tong, J. et al. The differences of carotid atherosclerosis among non-OSAHS and OSAHS patients of different severities: a cross-sectional study. Sleep Breath 25, 639–648 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02145-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02145-7

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