The relationship between the heart-type fatty acid binding protein levels, carotid intima media thickness and epicardial fat thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between carotid artery intima-media thickness, epicardial fat thickness measurement and the levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine newly diagnosed OSAS patients and fifty non-OSAS control subjects were enrolled in this study. In both groups, demographic data such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI) were recorded and carotid intima-media thickness (CMIT) and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) were measured. hFABP levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method according to the manufacturer’s protocols. Results: Patients with OSAS 67% male, 33% female gender is determined. The mean age of control group was 43.28 ± 12.12 years and group of OSAS was 47.85 ± 11.55 years (p= 0.026). In OSAS group; 38 mild OSAS (38.38%), 23 moderate OSAS (23.23%) and 38 severe OSAS (38.38%) patients were identified. In OSAS patients, average of apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was 29.83/hours. A positive correlation was observed between BMI with EFT and CMIT (p< 0.05). hFABP levels in OSAS group average was 2.65 ± 2.1 ng/mL and in control group average was 1.62 ± 0.90 ng/mL and this was statistically significant (p= 0.002). EFT, in the control group average was 5.3 ± 2.04 mm, while the average was 4.3 ± 1.79 mm in the OSAS group (p= 0.019). The correlation was observed between the CMIT and EFT (p< 0.001). There was no significant difference in BMI and gender between OSAS and control groups. No accompanying cardiovascular disease was detected in patients with OSAS. Conclusion: This study suggests EFT and hFABP can be used as a predictive value in determining cardiovascular risk in OSAS patients.

Giriş: Bu çalışmada obstrüktif uyku apne sendromu (OSAS) olan hastalarda karotid arterlerin intima media kalınlıkları ile epikardiyal yağ kalınlığı ölçümlerinin kalp tipi yağ asidi bağlayıcı protein (heart type fatty acid binding protein; hFABP) düzeyleri ile ilişkisini araştırmayı amaçladık. Materyal ve Metod: Çalışmaya 99 OSAS ve 50 kontrol olgusu dahil edildi. Hasta ve kontrol grubunda serum hFABP düzeyleri ölçüldü. Olguların demografik verileri kaydedildi ve karotis arter intima media kalınlığı (CMIT) ve epikardiyal yağ kalınlıklarının (EFT) ölçümü yapıldı. Bulgular: OSAS grubunun %67’si erkek, %33’ü kadın cinsiyet olarak saptanmıştır. Kontrol grubunun yaş ortalaması 43.28 ± 12.12 yıl, OSAS grubunun 47.85 ± 11.55 yıl idi (p= 0.026). OSAS olan grupta 38 (%38.38) hastada hafif, 23 (%23.23) hastada orta, 38 (%38.38) hastada ağır OSAS tespit edildi. OSAS grubunun AHİ ortalaması 29.83/sa idi. Beden kitle indeksi (BKİ) ile EFT ve CMIT arasında pozitif korelasyon izlendi (p< 0.05). hFABP düzeyi OSAS grubunda ortalama 2.65 ± 2.1 ng/mL iken kontrol grubunda ortalama 1.62 ± 0.90 ng/mL olarak tespit edildi (p= 0.002). CMIT OSAS grubunda ortalama 0.67 ± 23 mm iken kontrol grubunda ortalama 0.6 ± 0.21 mm idi (p> 0.05). EFT OSAS grubunda ortalama 5.3 ± 2.04 mm iken kontrol grubunda ortalama 4.3 ± 1.79 mm idi (p= 0.019). CMIT ve EFT arasında korelasyon izlendi (p< 0.001). OSAS’lı hastalar ile kontrol grubu arasında BKİ ve cinsiyet açısından anlamlı fark yoktu. OSAS’lı hastalarda eşlik eden kardiyovasküler hastalık saptanmadı. Sonuç: Bu çalışma OSAS tanısı konulan hastalarda kardiyovasküler riski belirlemede hFABP ve EFT değerlerinin prediktif olarak kullanılabileceğini düşündürmektedir