We evaluated mean platelet volume (MPV; an indicator of vascular risk) and platelet distribution width in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n = 85). We also included a control group of 34 smokers without airflow limitation. Mean platelet volume was significantly higher in patients with COPD (10.69 ± 1.0 vs 9.96 ± 1.10 fL, P < .001) than in the smoker controls. White blood cell (WBC) count was also significantly higher in patients with COPD than in the smoker controls (10,642 ± 1247 vs 7136 ± 1887/μL, P < .001). There was a correlation between MPV and WBC in patients with COPD, especially in those at stage III (r = .530, P = .004) and IV (r = .389, P = .023). Mean platelet volume did not correlate with any indices of COPD severity. In patients with COPD, MPV and WBC levels are higher than those of smokers with normal pulmonary function and are significantly correlated. Whether these effects relate to vascular risk in patients with COPD remain to be established.

Vit D levels were lower in OSAS patients compared with non-apnoeic controls. Several indices of OSAS severity also correlated with Vit D levels.

Objectives Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess whether the 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease in newly diagnosed patients with OSAS is increased. Materials and Methods Recently diagnosed, with polysomnography, consecutive OSAS patients were included. The Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) were used to estimate the 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease. Results Totally, 393 individuals (73.3% males), scheduled to undergo a polysomnographic study with symptoms indicative of OSAS, were enrolled. According to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), subjects were divided in four groups: mild OSAS (AHI 5–14.9/h) was diagnosed in 91 patients (23.2%), moderate OSAS (AHI 15–29.9/h) in 58 patients (14.8%), severe OSAS (AHI > 30/h) in 167 patients (42.5%), while 77 individuals (19.6%) had an AHI < 5/h and served as controls. Increased severity of OSAS was associated with increased SCORE (p < 0.001) and FRS values (p < 0.001). More specifically, a significant correlation was observed both between AHI and SCORE (r=0.251,  p < 0.001) and AHI and FRS values (r=0.291,  p < 0.001). Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between FRS values and sleep efficiency (r=−0.224,  p=0.006). Conclusions The 10-year risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality seems to increase with severity of OSAS. Physicians should bear this finding in mind, in order to seek for and consecutively eliminate risk factors for cardiovascular disease and to prevent future cardiovascular events in OSAS patients.

Patients with IPF exhibit higher MPV values and lower platelet count. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical implications of these findings.

Introduction: Accumulating evidence suggests that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly prevalent among patients with concurrent obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, otherwise known as overlap syndrome (OS). Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the 10-year risk for CVD in OS patients compared with OSAS patients and controls. Methods: Consecutive patients, referred for symptoms suggestive of OSAS, were evaluated with polysomnography and pulmonary function testing. Cardiovascular risk was assessed using the Framingham risk score (FRS) and systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE). Results: Overall, 244 participants (184 males) without CVD and diabetes were divided into 3 groups: controls (n = 63), OSAS (n = 139) and OS (n = 42). Both FRS and SCORE were found to be elevated in the OS group compared with the OSAS and control groups (P < .001 for all). In multivariate analysis, age (β = .461, P < .001), forced expiratory volume in first second (β = −.285, P = .036) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (β = .234, P = .007) were major determinants for the SCORE, whereas age (β = .308, P < .001) and apnoea-hypopnoea index (β = .252, P = .010) for the FRS. Conclusion: In our study, an increased risk for CVD was observed in a group of patients with OS at the time of their initial evaluation. Further studies are needed in the field of OS in order to investigate, prevent and manage early CVD in this population.