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Fatigue and serum testosterone in obstructive sleep apnea patients
Raluca Mihaela Bercea1,2, Traian Mihaescu1,2, Cristian Cojocaru1,2
1'Grigore T. Popa' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.
The Clinical Respiratory Journal
|April 15, 2014
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to lower testosterone levels and increased fatigue. Lower testosterone independently predicts physical fatigue and reduced activity in OSA patients, highlighting a key factor in OSA-related tiredness.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Men's Health
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related fatigue is a prevalent yet understudied symptom.
- Low serum testosterone is associated with fatigue in non-OSA populations, but this link is unexplored in OSA patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between fatigue and serum testosterone levels in adult obese males with OSA.
- To identify predictors of OSA-related fatigue.
Main Methods:
- Compared serum testosterone, polysomnography parameters, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue levels between 15 OSA patients and 15 controls.
- Utilized regression analysis to identify fatigue predictors and Kruskal-Wallis test for group comparisons.
Main Results:
- Mean testosterone levels were significantly lower in the OSA group (3.55 ng/mL) compared to controls (4.26 ng/mL).
- An inverse correlation was observed between testosterone levels and fatigue scores (P < 0.01).
- Testosterone was the sole independent predictor of physical fatigue and reduced activity in OSA patients.
Conclusions:
- OSA-related fatigue is strongly associated with lower serum testosterone levels.
- The severity of OSA also correlates with increased fatigue, particularly in severe cases.
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