Nese Dursunoglu

Impact of obstructive sleep apnoea on left ventricular mass and global function

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) might be a cause of heart failure. The present study aimed to assess left ventricular mass and myocardial performance index (MPI) in OSAS patients. A total of 67 subjects without any cardiac or pulmonary disease, referred for evaluation of OSAS, had overnight polysomnography and echocardiography. According to apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), subjects were classified into three groups: mild OSAS (AHI: 5–14; n = 16), moderate OSAS (AHI: 15-29; n = 18), and severe OSAS (AHI: ≥30; n = 33). Thickness of interventricular septum (IVS) and posterior wall (LVPW) were measured by M-mode, along with left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVM index (LVMI). Left ventricular MPI was calculated as (isovolumic contraction time+isovolumic relaxation time)/aortic ejection time by Döppler echocardiography. There were no differences in age or body mass index among the groups, but blood pressures were higher in severe OSAS compared with moderate and mild OSAS. In severe OSAS, thickness of IVS (11.2±1.1 mm), LVPW (11.4±0.9 mm), LVM (298.8±83.1 g) and LVMI (144.7±39.8 g·m−2) were higher than in moderate OSAS (10.9±1.3 mm; 10.8±0.9 mm; 287.3±74.6 g; 126.5±41.2 g·m−2, respectively) and mild OSAS (9.9±0.9 mm; 9.8±0.8 mm; 225.6±84.3 g; 100.5±42.3 g·m−2, respectively). In severe OSAS, MPI (0.64±0.14) was significantly higher than in mild OSAS (0.50±0.09), but not significantly higher than moderate OSAS (0.60±0.10). In conclusion, severe and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients had higher left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index, and also left ventricular global dysfunction.

Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Right Ventricular Global Function: Sleep Apnea and Myocardial Performance Index

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive upper airway obstructions during sleep, and it might cause cardiovascular complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, systemic and pulmonary hypertension. Objectives: To determine right ventricular diameters and myocardial performance index (MPI) reflecting ventricular global function in uncomplicated OSA patients. Methods: 49 subjects without hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or any cardiac or pulmonary disease referred for evaluation of OSA had overnight polysomnography and complete echocardiographic assessment. According to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), subjects were divided into three groups: group 1: control subjects (AHI <5, n = 20), group 2: patients with mild OSA (AHI: 5–14, n = 11), and group 3: moderate-severe OSA (AHI ≧15, n = 18). Right ventricular free wall diameter was measured by M mode, and right ventricular MPI was calculated as (isovolumic contraction time + isovolumic relaxation time)/pulmonary ejection time. Results: There were no differences of age, body mass index, heart rates, systolic and diastolic blood pressures among the groups (p > 0.05). Right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters were not statistically different between the groups, and were within normal limits. Also, right ventricular free wall diameter was not significantly different between the groups of control, mild OSA and moderate-severe OSA (6.7 ± 0.9, 6.9 ± 1.0, 7.1 ± 1.1 mm, p > 0.05). Right ventricular diastolic dysfunction was shown only in group 3 patients. Right ventricular MPI was statistically higher in group 3 (0.62 ± 0.18) than in group 2 patients (0.50 ± 0.10), and group 1 patients (0.48 ± 0.08, p < 0.001). Conclusions: It wassuggested that patients with moderate-severe OSA had a right ventricular global dysfunction, in addition to the presence of a diastolic dysfunction.

QT interval dispersion in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients without hypertension.

QT interval dispersion (QTd) reflects inhomogeneity of repolarisation. Delayed cardiac repolarisation leading to the prolongation of the QT interval is a well-characterised precursor of arrhythmias. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) can cause cardiovascular complications, such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and systemic and pulmonary hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess QTd in OSAS patients without hypertension. A total of 49 subjects without hypertension, diabetes mellitus, any cardiac or pulmonary diseases, or any hormonal, hepatic, renal or electrolyte disorders were referred for evaluation of OSAS. An overnight polysomnography and a standard 12-lead ECG were performed in each subject. According to the apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI), subjects were divided into control subjects (AHI <5, n = 20) and moderate–severe OSAS patients (AHI ≥15, n = 29). QTd (defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum QT interval) and QT-corrected interval dispersion (QTcd) were calculated using Bazzets formula. In conclusion, the QTcd was significantly higher in OSAS patients (56.1±9.3 ms) than in controls (36.3±4.5 ms). A strong positive correlation was shown between QTcd and AHI. In addition, a significantly positive correlation was shown between QTcd and the desaturation index (DI). The AHI and DI were significantly related to QTcd as an independent variable using stepwise regression analysis. The QT-corrected interval dispersion is increased in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients without hypertension, and it may reflect obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome severity.

Is the clinical presentation different between men and women admitting to the sleep laboratory

ObjectivesSleep and sleep disorders are different in several important ways between men and women. We aimed to investigate gender differences in initial symptoms and associating medical diseases of patients admitting to our sleep clinic.MethodsNinety-one patients, 20 women (22%) and 71 men (78%), admitting consecutively to the sleep clinic were studied. A detailed sleep and medical history of the patients was recorded. All patients were questioned for Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and underwent an entire night of diagnostic polysomnography. Apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) was identified as the total number of apnea and hypopnea per hour of sleep. Hypopnea was defined as a decrease of airflow by at least 50% and desaturations were defined as ≥4% decrease in oxygen saturation.ResultsThe mean values for age, body mass index, blood pressures and ESS score did not significantly differ between men and women, but AHI (events/h) was significantly higher in men (29.1 ± 22.7) than women (17.9 ± 17.7, p < 0.05). Snoring was the most common symptom in both men (95%) and women (90%). Among the main presenting complaints, only morning headache (12 of women 60%, 31 of men 43%, p = 0.04) and dry mouth on awakening (ten of women 50%, 57 of men 80%, p = 0.02) showed a significant difference between the two genders, while among the medical diseases only hypothyroidism (four of women 20% and three of men 4%, p = 0.03) and depression (nine of women 45% and 16 of men 22%, p = 0.02) were seen as statistically higher in women than in men.ConclusionsPrimary care physicians should be aware of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in women and the importance of referring women for sleep studies when they complain of symptoms associated with OSA, even if other non-specific symptoms such as morning headaches are reported. Also, hypothyroidism and depression are accompanied with sleep disorders especially in women.

Severe sleep apnea syndrome diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction.

A 55-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction and no heart failure, had episodes of severe oxygen desaturation and apnea, while his hemodynamic parameters were stable. Sleep recordings revealed severe sleep apnea, and pulmonary function tests showed bronchial obstruction. Apnea and desaturation resolved on bilevel positive airway pressure. Patients with acute myocardial infarction who have apnea and hypoxemia without evident heart failure should be evaluated for sleep disorders.

Severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has many comorbidities such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. Chronic low‐grade systemic inflammation and oxidative stress play a significant role in CAD and COPD. We analysed that impact of COPD on intensity and severity of coronary artery lesions on the angiogram in the groups of patients with COPD according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades updated in 2015.

Evaluation of cardiac biomarkers and right ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Objective: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) with myocardial damage may lead to fatal complications in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Cytoplasmic heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (HFABP) and the N-terminal fragment of its prohormone (NT-proBNP) are sensitive and specific biomarkers of myocardial damage. We evaluated RVD and cardiac biomarkers for myocardial damage and short-term mortality in patients with acute PE. Methods: We analyzed 41 patients (24 females, 17 males) with confirmed acute PE prospective. Three groups (massive, submassive, and non-massive) of patients were defined, based on systemic systolic blood pressure measured on admission and RVD by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Also, systolic (s) and mean (m) pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) were recorded by TTE, and plasma concentrations of cardiac troponin T (cTn-T), NT-proBNP, and HFABP were evaluated 6 month follow-up. Results: Seventeen (41.5%) patients experienced a complicated clinical course in the 6-month follow-up for the combined end-point, including at least one of the following: death (n=12, 29.3%; 3 PE-related), chronic PE (n=4, 9.8%), pulmonary hypertension (n=2, 4.9%), and recurrent PE (n=1, 2.4%). Multivariate hazard ratio analysis revealed HFABP, NT-proBNP, and PAPs as the 6-month mortality predictors (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.05; HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.04; and HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.02-1.05, respectively). Conclusion: HFABP, NT-proBNP, and PAPs measured on admission may be useful for short-term risk stratification and in the prediction of 6-month PE-related mortality in patients with acute PE.

Evaluation of serum adiponectin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVES Serum adiponectin levels have been found to be lower in patients with obesity, hypertension, and coronary artery diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum adiponectin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to correlate these levels with the severity of OSAS. STUDY DESIGN In 62 OSAS patients (39 males, 23 females) and 32 controls (23 males, 9 females) determined by polisomnography, serum adiponectin levels were analyzed by the ELISA method. Patients were classified as having either mild (apnea hypopnea index, AHI: 5-14), moderate (AHI: 15-29) or severe (AHI ≥30) OSAS, and controls were defined as AHI <5. Plasma fasting glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high (HDL-C) and low (LDL-C) density lipoprotein cholesterols were analyzed, and the results were compared between the groups. RESULTS There was no significant difference in mean age (51.6±10.7 years for patients, 48.3±10.8 years for controls) or body mass index (32.9±6.0 kg/m2 for patients, 31.3±5.6 kg/m2 for controls, p>0.05) in our study population. There was no significant difference in the number of hypertensive, diabetics, or smokers between the patients and controls. While serum TC, TG, and HDL cholesterol levels were not significantly different between two groups, the serum adiponectin levels of patients (3.0±3.4 µg/dl) were significantly lower than those of the controls (5.2±5.2 µg/dl, p=0.01). While serum adiponectin levels showed a significantly negative correlation with AHI (r=-0.221, p=0.03), there was a significantly positive correlation with minimum and mean oxygen saturations (r=0.213, p=0.04 and r=0.205, p=0.05). CONCLUSION Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in patients with OSAS, especially for those in the severe OSAS group. Serum adiponectin levels are related to the severity of OSAS and arterial oxygen saturation.

Comorbidities: Assessment and Treatment

COPD is an umbrella term that is associated with several systemic manifestation, lung involvement, and comorbidities [1, 2]. Currently, the description of comorbidity is complicated and has three different domains: “(1) the coexistence of one or more diseases with no other causation, (2) coexistence of diseases that share common risk factors and pathogenic pathways, (3) coexistence of diseases that are complicated by the interaction with the lung and systemic manifestation of COPD” [3]. In a very recent study, BODE Investigator Group suggested that COPD is interlinked with several comorbidities larger than non-COPD controls indicating common pathobiological process [4]. The importance of comorbidities is their impact on clinical outcomes of a patient life. COPD is a life-threatening and disabling disease and comorbidities cause additional impact revealing impairment in quality of life and increasing mortality [3].

Relationship between hematological examination, glucose, HbA1c level, and disease stages in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an episodic disease that is characterized by intermittent partial interruption of breathing during sleep, which results in low oxygen levels in organs and tissues. The characteristic symptoms of OSAS include snoring, apnea or hypopnea, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Our aim is to determine the early diagnosis of diabetes and to initiate treatments for OSAS patients according to the results of polysomnography (PSG) in the sleep polyclinic based on fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels in patients with known OSAS without diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who applied to the sleep polyclinic of the Pamukkale University and were diagnosed with OSAS using PSG were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients with OSAS and a control group consisting of 47 people meeting these criteria were included. Compared with the control group, the patient groups showed significantly higher Hb values (P < 0.05) and lower mean corpuscular volume (P < 0.05). Significant negative correlations were found between glucose levels and mean O2saturation values in patients with severe OSAS (apnea–hypopnea index > 30) (r = −0.583, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, even though significant differences were not found in the glucose and HbA1c levels of patients with OSAS, glucose metabolism was deteriorated when saturation was decreased in severe OSAS. Therefore, glucose levels should be observed frequently, particularly in severe cases of OSAS or in patients with hypoxia, regardless of the stage. More attention should also be paid to the development of diabetes.