BackgroundBoth obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are considered to be related with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study we evaluate the association between OSAS and presence of subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by tomographic coronary calcium score in patients who had OSAS but no history of known CAD.MethodsSeventy-three patients who were asymptomatic for CAD and had suspected OSAS were referred to overnight attended polysomnography. Patients were classified into 4 groups according to the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). All patients underwent computed tomographic examination for tomographic coronary calcification scoring. Physical examination, sleep study recordings, complete blood count and serum biochemistry were obtained from all patients.ResultsIn the whole group, AHI levels were weakly correlated with coronary calcium score (r = 0.342, p = 0.003) and body mass index (r = 0.337, p = 0.004), moderately correlated with basal oxygen saturation (r = −0.734, p < 0.001), and strongly correlated with oxygen desaturation index (r = 0.844, p < 0.001). In an univariate analysis, age, AHI, basal oxygen saturation, and oxygen desaturation index were associated with CAC in patients with OSAS. In a multiple logistic regression model, age (OR 1.108,%95 CI 1.031-1.191, p = 0.005) and AHI (OR 1.036,% 95 CI 1.003-1.070, p = 0.033) were only independent predictors of CAC in patients with OSAS with a sensitivity of 88.9% and 77.8% and a specificity of 54.3% and 56.5% respectively.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that in patients with moderate or severe OSAS and advanced age, physicians should be alert for the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Background: Both obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are considered to be related with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study we evaluate the association between OSAS and presence of subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by tomographic coronary calcium score in patients who had OSAS but no history of known CAD. Methods: Seventy-three patients who were asymptomatic for CAD and had suspected OSAS were referred to overnight attended polysomnography. Patients were classified into 4 groups according to the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). All patients underwent computed tomographic examination for tomographic coronary calcification scoring. Physical examination, sleep study recordings, complete blood count and serum biochemistry were obtained from all patients. Results: In the whole group, AHI levels were weakly correlated with coronary calcium score (r = 0.342, p = 0.003) and body mass index (r = 0.337, p = 0.004), moderately correlated with basal oxygen saturation (r = −0.734, p < 0.001), and strongly correlated with oxygen desaturation index (r = 0.844, p < 0.001). In an univariate analysis, age, AHI, basal oxygen saturation, and oxygen desaturation index were associated with CAC in patients with OSAS. In a multiple logistic regression model, age (OR 1.108,%95 CI 1.031-1.191, p = 0.005) and AHI (OR 1.036,% 95 CI 1.003-1.070, p = 0.033) were only independent predictors of CAC in patients with OSAS with a sensitivity of 88.9% and 77.8% and a specificity of 54.3% and 56.5% respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in patients with moderate or severe OSAS and advanced age, physicians should be alert for the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Objective: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, and it remains a challenge for cardiac surgeons despite advances in medicine. A number of studies have been performed to examine various parameters to predict which patients will develop POAF. The present study was performed to investigate the roles of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as predictors of POAF. Methods: The medical records of 350 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in one or more vessels at the Tertiary Cardiac Center, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Mevlana (Rumi) University Private Hospital (Konya, Turkey), were screened between December 2011 and May 2015. The study population consisted of 149 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria and undergoing a preoperative evaluation by computed chest tomography. All patient demographics and laboratory parameters were obtained from medical records. Results: Age, postoperative RDW, and tomography variables, including the left atrial (LA) volume, LA diameters, and EAT volume, were significantly higher while the hemoglobin level and hematocrit were significantly lower in patients developing atrial fibrillation after cardiopulmonary bypass. A logistic multivariate regression analysis was performed on age, postoperative RDW, and tomography variables, including LA volume, LA diameters and EAT volume. Only age (OR 1.0731, 95% CI 1.012-1.138; p = 0.018) was an independent predictor of the development of POAF. Conclusions: Although the EAT volume was high in patients developing atrial fibrillation after surgery, age was the only significant predictor of POAF on multivariate analysis. Additional studies regarding the predictive roles of epicardial fat and RDW in POAF are needed.

RRI may be a marker that may be used in assessing resistance to renal blood flow, early renal damage, and progression of renal damage in FMF patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is strongly associated with the presence of significant risk factors for cardiovascular disturbances. A disturbance in the oxidative/antioxidative balance is involved in the pathogenesis of OSA and cardiovascular diseases. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is suggested as a novel marker of oxidative stress; IMA can be defined as decreased binding of transitional metal ions to serum albumin in oxidative status. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the influence of OSA on IMA levels and CIMT. In total, 61 individuals with OSA with no comorbidities and 24 healthy controls with a similar body mass index and age were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of IMA, CIMT (estimated radiologically), and polysomnographic parameters, were determined and interpreted. Serum IMA levels were significantly higher in individuals with OSA compared with the control group (p=0.0003). CIMT was significantly higher in the OSA group compared with the control group (0.88± 0.26 mm vs 0.75±0.17 mm, p=0.005). The CIMT and serum IMA levels were positively correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index (r=0.35 and r=0.32, respectively), and with the oxygen desaturation index (r=0.34 and r=0.29, respectively) at baseline. Increased IMA levels and CIMT may be related to increased oxidative stress and risk of atherosclerosis in individuals with OSA.