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Increased microcirculatory heterogeneity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Lukas Ruzek1,2, Karolina Svobodova3, Lyle J Olson4
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, St. Anna's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Plos One
|September 2, 2017
Summary
Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impairs microcirculation overnight, decreasing flow and increasing heterogeneity. These changes correlate with OSA severity, highlighting potential cardiovascular risks.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Sleep Medicine
- Microcirculation Research
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder linked to cardiovascular issues.
- Microcirculatory impairment is suspected in OSA patients, potentially worsening with disease severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microcirculatory changes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- To determine if the severity of OSA correlates with the degree of microcirculatory impairment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized sidestream darkfield imaging to assess sublingual microcirculation in patients undergoing polysomnography (PSG).
- Measured microvascular flow index and heterogeneity before and after overnight PSG.
- Defined OSA severity using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
Main Results:
- Severe OSA (AHI ≥30) was associated with a significant overnight decrease in microvascular flow index compared to non-OSA subjects.
- Severe OSA also showed a significant overnight increase in microvascular flow index heterogeneity.
- Multiple regression analysis confirmed that decreased flow and increased heterogeneity were associated with higher AHI values, independent of age and gender.
Conclusions:
- Acute overnight changes in microcirculation, including reduced flow and increased heterogeneity, are evident in severe obstructive sleep apnea.
- These findings suggest a direct impact of severe OSA on the microvasculature within a single night.
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