Abstract:

Objective To analyse the changes of metabolic parameters and condition of metabolic syndrome (MS) in females with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and explore the interaction between OSAHS and MS. Methods Sixty females undergoing polysomnography were included, and were divided into simple snorer group (n=19), mild OSAHS group (n=21) and moderate to severe OSAHS group (n=20). Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) scores and metabolic parameters were compared among groups. Forty-one patients with OSAHS were subdivided into group with MS (MS group, n=15) and group without MS (non-MS group, n=26). ESS scores, apnea hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and lowest pulse oxygen saturation (LSpO₂) were compared between MS group and non-MS group. Results There was no significant difference in age, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density cholesterol (LDL), high density cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and apolipoprotein B(apoB) among simple snorer group, mild OSAHS group and moderate to severe OSAHS group (P>0.05). Correlation analysis revealed ESS was positively related to AHI (r=0.327, P=0.011). ESS scores and proportions of hypertension, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and MS were significantly higher in moderate to severe OSAHS group than those in simple snorer group (P<0.05). BMI, FPG, TG, proportion of hypertension, ODI and ESS score in MS group were significantly higher than those in non-MS group （P<0.05）, while there was no significant difference in AHI and LspO₂ between these two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion ESS score may reflect the severity of OSAHS in females. Females with OSAHS matched for age and BMI have no difference in blood fat. With the increase of severity of OSAHS, glycometabolism can be impaired, the prevalences of hypertension and MS increase. MS can exacerbate the severity of OSAHS, indicating that MS and OSAHS interact with each other.

Key words: obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, metabolic syndrome, female, Epworth sleepiness scale score