Abstract
Objective: This study was performed retrospectively to evaluate the relationship between smoking, weight, biochemical, and hematological parameters and Common Carotid Artery- Intima Media Thickness (CCA-IMT) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: 96 OSAS patients aged between 30 and 76 years (Average = 47 ±12), and 48 control subjects aged between 22 and 75 years (Average = 53 ±11) were evaluated. Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure CCA-IMT of subjects, grouped based on Apnoea hypopnea index (AHI), smoking habit, and body mass index (BMI). Results: It is observed that CCA- IMT increases in OSAS patients. The hemoglobin and hematocrit
values were significantly different in the OSAS group against the controls. This can be attributed to an increase in erythrocyte due to hypoxia. The levels of triglyceride, CRP, and homocysteine were found to be higher in patients than in controls, though not statistically significant. Conclusions: Sleep apnoea-related hypoxia has hazardous effects on human health. Hypoxia and apnoea that constitutes an important percentage of disordered breathing events seem to contribute heavily to an increase in IMT. Additionally, CCAIMT is highly related to smoking; yet even in nonsmokers, OSAS is an independent risk factor.