Prevalence of dyslipidaemia in OSA patients at a tertiary care center

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with many diseases, but evidence indicating that OSA is a risk factor for dyslipidemia is lacking. Aim This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of lipid abnormalities in patients with OSA and its association with OSA severity.

In this cross-sectional study, 102 patients with suspected OSA underwent standard polysomnography. All patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥5 with symptoms were diagnosed as having OSA. A fasting blood sample was collected from all patients. Blood levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) were measured. The relationship between the AHI and lipid profiles was analyzed, and linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of dyslipidemia on OSA.

The patients with OSA had a significantly higher TG level and a significantly lower HDL level than did those without OSA. The lipid abnormalities increased with OSA severity. The mean serum TG level was higher in the severe OSA group (175±46.5 vs. 153±42.45, mg/dl P = 0.048), and the mean serum HDL level was lower in the severe OSA group (38.43 ± 5.19 vs. 45.73 ± 4.98, mg/dl P = 0.004). Serum TG, cholesterol, and LDL levels were correlated with a BMI of <30 and a BMI of >30 in the OSA group. Linear regression analysis indicated that only age (β = 0.301, P = 0.000), BMI (β = 0.455, P = 0.000), serum HDL level (β = -0.297, P = 0.012), and serum LDL level (β = 0.429, P = 0.001) were the independent predictors of OSA.

OSA and obesity are potential risk factors for dyslipidemia. The diagnosis of hyperlipidemia was linked to OSA, and the association was more significant with OSA severity. Hyperlipidemia was well recognized in patients with OSA. LDL and HDL are the independent predictors of OSA.