Risk prediction for Obstructive Sleep Apnea prognostic in Obese patients referred for bariatric surgery

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Sleep Medicine
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
• Patients undergoing bariatric surgery often present with obesity-related comorbidities, including OSA.
• Preoperative assessment of OSA is crucial for surgical risk stratification and patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate anthropometric measurements, clinical characteristics, and quality of life in patients seeking bariatric surgery.
• To determine the prevalence and severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) using polysomnography.
• To identify predictive anthropometric and clinical indicators for OSA in obese patients eligible for bariatric surgery.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted with 46 patients undergoing preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² with comorbidities or BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²).
• Patients underwent polysomnography to diagnose and assess the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
• Anthropometric measurements, including waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) was diagnosed in 76% of the study participants.
• Moderate-to-severe OSA was present in 59% of patients, predominantly men.
• Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) ≥ 0.95 was the only clinical factor significantly associated with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15, indicating a threefold increased likelihood of moderate-to-severe OSA.

Conclusions:

• Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a valuable and simple clinical indicator for predicting moderate-to-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in obese patients.
• A WHR cutoff of 0.95 effectively identifies patients at higher risk for moderate-to-severe OSA prior to bariatric surgery.