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The Severity of Oxygen Desaturation Is Predictive of Carotid Wall Thickening and Plaque Occurrence^*

^* From the Department of Cardiology and Hypertension (Drs. Baguet, Hammer, Pierre, and Mallion), University Hospital; and Sleep Laboratory (Drs. Lévy, Launois, and Pépin), EFCR University Hospital, Grenoble, France.

Correspondence to: Jean-Philippe Baguet, MD, PhD, Service de Cardiologie et Hypertension artérielle, CHU de Grenoble, BP 217 - 38043, Grenoble Cedex 09, France; e-mail: JPBaguet{at}chu-grenoble.fr

Study objectives: To characterize carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque occurrence in patients with newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without known cardiovascular disease.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Sleep Laboratory and Department of Cardiology of Grenoble University Hospital.

Patients and intervention: OSA syndrome is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Carotid IMT is recognized as a marker of preclinic atheroma. A small number of studies have analyzed large-artery wall modifications in OSA syndrome. Eighty-three patients (74 men; mean age ± SD, 48 ± 11 years; mean body mass index, 27.4 ± 4.2 kg/m²) were included. Mean respiratory disturbance index was 40.7 ± 19.2/h, mean nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) was 93.1 ± 2.0%, and mean percentage of recording time spent at SaO₂ < 90% was 8.6 ± 16.8%. Clinical BP was measured following European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology recommendations, and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring was assessed. Ultrasonography was used to determine the carotid IMT and atheromatous plaque occurrence.

Measurements and results: Twenty-five of 83 patients (30%) had carotid wall hypertrophy (IMT > 0.8 mm). In a logistic regression model, mean nocturnal SaO₂ < 92% (odds ratio [OR], 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 12.7) was associated with carotid wall hypertrophy. ORs were even higher after adjustment for BP status (OR, 10.6; 95% CI, 1.6 to 50.9 in normotensive patients) and glucose levels (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.0 to 20.9). Mean nocturnal SaO₂ < 92% and minimal nocturnal SaO₂ < 80% (ORs, 3.1 and 3.1; 95% CIs, 1.0 to 9.4 and 1.0 to 8.5, respectively) were associated with the presence of carotid plaque formation independently of the BP status (hypertensive or normotensive).

Conclusions: The severity of oxygen desaturation appears to be one of the best predictors for carotid IMT and plaque occurrence in OSA patients without known cardiovascular disease. Thus, carotid IMT and plaque formation appeared as early cardiovascular consequences in OSA patients.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • carotid intima-media thickness • obstructive sleep apnea • oxygen desaturation

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