Abstract: Objective · To assess the level of serum lipid metabolism related hormones in the patients of obstructive sleep apnoea hypoxia syndrome (OSAHS) combine with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and explore the potential role in the pathogenesis. Methods · Patients that main complaint for snoring were selected. According to polysomnography and NAFLD screening, the patients were divided as follows: OSAHS+NAFLD group, OSAHS group, NAFLD group, and control group, and the levels of serum lipid metabolism related hormones were measured. The patients with OSAHS were divided into three groups, i.e., mild, moderate and severe groups according to the degree of apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and minimal oxyhemoglobin saturation (MinSaO2) respectively. The statistical analysis about the morbidity of NAFLD in the patients with different OSAHS severity were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of NAFLD. Results · Significant differences were found in AHI, MinSaO2, the duration of hemoglobin desaturation (TSaO2<90%), body mass index, adiponectin, leptin, high sensitive C reactive protein and lipopolysaccharide (P<0.05 for all) among the groups of OSAHS, NAFLD and OSAHS+NAFLD. The morbidity of NAFLD exited statistical difference in the patients with different OSAHS severity (17.0%, 51.6% and 97.2%, P0.006), and the same trend was seen in the patients with different MinSaO2 severity (18.2%, 57.1% and 91.9%, P0.011). Multiple regression analysis showed that body mass index, AHI and adiponectin were independent predictors of the morbidity of NAFLD (P0.006，P0.020 and P0.008). Conclusion · The morbidity of NAFLD increases with the worsening of OSAHS. There is positive correlation between the severity and the level of serum adiponectin and leptin in the patients with OSAHS and NAFLD.

Key words: obstructive sleep apnoea hypoxia syndrome (OSAHS), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), adiponectin, leptin