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Association between hydrogen sulfide and OSA-associated hypertension: a clinical study

  • Dentistry • Original Article
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Abstract

Purpose

We sought to unravel the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the development of hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

The study sample included 80 patients with OSA and 45 healthy controls. All subjects underwent measurement of blood pressure (BP) and serum H2S level in the morning. Twentynine of the 39 patients with OSA and concomitant hypertension and 23 of the 41 patients with OSA but no concomitant hypertension received continuous positive alveolar pressure (CPAP) therapy for 4 weeks. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP and serum H2S were determined before and after CPAP. Respiratory indices including apnea hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation (SaO2), and length of time < 90% saturated (T90) were determined by polysomnography.

Results

Associations between H2S, BP, respiratory indices, and changes with CPAP were analyzed. OSA patients had significantly higher systolic BP (p = 0.003) and diastolic BP (p = 0.009) and lower H2S levels (p = 0.02) compared to healthy controls. H2S negatively correlated with AHI (p = 0.005), T90 (p = 0.009), morning systolic BP (p = 0.02), and morning diastolic BP (p = 0.03). All respiratory indices were significantly improved (p < 0.05) after CPAP in OSA patients with or without hypertension. BP was significantly reduced and H2S significantly increased after CPAP in OSA patients with hypertension (p < 0.05) but not in OSA patients without hypertension (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that 24h systolic BP and 24h diastolic BP correlated with H2S as well as their changes after CPAP treatment. Reduction in H2S may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in patients with OSA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, 49# Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China

    Man-man Shi, Jian-li Wang, Li-qiang Zhang, Mei Qin & Yong-wei Huang

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  1. Man-man Shi
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  2. Jian-li Wang
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  3. Li-qiang Zhang
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  4. Mei Qin
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  5. Yong-wei Huang
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Contributions

Man-man Shi performed most of the investigation.

Jian-li Wang performed some of the investigation.

Li-qiang Zhang designed/data analysis and wrote the manuscript.

Mei Qin performed some of the investigation.

Yong-wei Huang performed some of the investigation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li-qiang Zhang.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

This study was approved by the ethics committees at our hospital.

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Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects prior to their enrolment in the study.

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Shi, Mm., Wang, Jl., Zhang, Lq. et al. Association between hydrogen sulfide and OSA-associated hypertension: a clinical study. Sleep Breath 24, 745–750 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-019-01997-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-019-01997-y

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