Irisin Is Correlated with Blood Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients

Abstract

Background. Despite approximately 95% primary cases of hypertension, secondary hypertension seems to be common with resistant forms. Notably, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known as a common cause of secondary hypertension and has a major characteristic of obesity. Irisin acts as a link between muscles and adipose tissues in obesity, playing an essential role in human blood pressure (BP) regulation. However, whether irisin is associated with secondary hypertension caused by OSA and how it takes effect essentially have not been elucidated. Purpose. To investigate the changes of irisin and its relationship with BP in OSA. Methods. 72 snoring patients finished Epworth Sleep Scale (ESS) evaluation before polysomnography (PSG). BP was the average of three brachial BP values by mercury sphygmomanometer. Serum irisin level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were analyzed by SPSS software. Results. Irisin was higher in the severe and quite severe group than that in control and nonsevere groups ( p < 0.05 ). For BP, significant differences were found between the control group and the other three groups ( p < 0.05 ) and between the quite severe and the other three groups ( p ≤ 0.001 ). Positive correlations were found between irisin and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), AHI and BP, and irisin level and BP. Negative correlations were between irisin and SpO2 nadir and SpO2 nadir and BP. Positive correlation still existed between AHI and irisin even after adjusting for some obesity-related variables. Conclusions. Irisin may serve as a potential biomarker for severity of OSA independently of obesity and imply the development of hypertension.

Irisin, in women and men: blood pressure, heart rate, obesity and insulin resistance

“…So, in women and men, the only blood pressure measurement related with irisin was DBP. Even though previous studies have described systolic and diastolic blood pressure correlations with irisin, they did not adjust physical activity and this is crucial for this exerkine; in addition their sample sizes were small and the authors recognize the need of future studies with larger sample sizes (21,22). It has been suggested that irisin plays a role in blood pressure control, perhaps acting as cofactor to modulate vascular function, so a balanced serum level of irisin would be essential in maintaining vascular tone (23).…”

Association between irisin and metabolic parameters in nondiabetic, nonobese adults: a meta-analysis

“…However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the association between irisin levels and blood pressure in humans. Positive correlations have been found between irisin levels and blood pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea patients [38]. Similarly, a study including 24 obese and 63 normal-weight children has found that irisin levels are positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure [39].…”