Abstract:
Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics, sleep monitoring parameters, and their correlation with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with different sleep subtypes.
Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 113 OSA patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, Fuyang People's Hospital. Based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the patients were divided into the REM-OSA group (AHI-REM/AHI-NREM ≥ 2) and NREM-OSA group (AHI-REM/AHI-NREM < 2). The general demographic data and polysomnographic parameters were compared between two groups. Spearman's partial correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between different OSA sleep subtypes and occurrence of MetS.
Results A total of 113 patients were included, among which 27 cases were in the REM-OSA group and 86 cases were in the NREM-OSA group. Compared with the NREM-OSA group, the proportion of females was higher in the REM-OSA group. The proportions of smoking and drinking, prevalence of cerebral infarction and level of glycated hemoglob in the REM-OSA group were all lower than those in the NREM-OSA group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Comparison of sleep detection indicators between the two groups: The AHI-NREM, total AHI value, sleep efficiency and awakening time in the REM-OSA group were significantly lower than those in the NREM-OSA group. The percentage of total sleep time in NREM stage 3 (N3%) and lowest blood oxygen saturation (L-SaO2) (NREM) were significantly higher than those in the NREM-OSA group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). The univariate analysis of the impact of clinically relevant indicators on MetS showed that among all 113 subjects, compared with non-mets patients, MetS patients had a higher BMI value, a higher proportion of smoking, drinking, a history of cerebral infarction and hypertension. The levels of FBG, HbA1c, TG and CRP were relatively high (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Among the 27 cases in the REM-OSA group, compared with non-MetS patients, MetS patients were older, and had a higher proportion of hypertension. The levels of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and C-reactive protein were relatively high (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Among the 86 cases in the NREM-OSA group, compared with the non-MetS patients, the MetS patients were younger, had a higher proportion of males, a higher BMI, a greater proportion of smokers and drinkers, and a higher proportion of patients with a history of cerebral infarction and hypertension. The levels of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and C-reactive protein were relatively high (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Univariate analysis of the influence of sleep indicators on MetS showed that in all subjects and the NREM-OSA group, compared with non-MetS patients, the total sleep time of MetS patients decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, in the REM-OSA group, the total sleep time of MetS patients was similar to that of non-mets patients, but there were significant differences in AHI-NREM and L-SaO2 (REM), which were statistically significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that in all subjects and the NREM-OSA group, the total sleep time was significantly negatively correlated with the prevalence of MetS, while the L-SaO2 (REM) was significantly positively correlated with the prevalence of MetS (P < 0.05). In the REM-OSA group, the total sleep time, sleep latency, REM latency, percentage of total sleep time in NREM stage 3 and AHI-REM/AHI-NREM index were significantly negatively correlated with the prevalence of MetS. However, the indicators of sleep efficiency and percentage of total sleep time in NREM stage 2 were significantly positively correlated with the prevalence of MetS (P < 0.05).
Conclusions There are significant differences between REM-OSA and NREM-OSA patients in terms of population characteristics, comorbidity patterns, sleep structure and association with MetS, which can provide the clinical references for individualized assessment of OSA and risk stratification of MetS.