Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been linked to cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, and clinical cardiovascular endpoints. Our aim was to assess whether OSA is independently associated with atherosclerosis and vascular dysfunction as assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS: 58 patients with OSA and 39 matched control subjects without OSA underwent CMR of the aorta and carotid arteries. Carotid and aortic wall thickness and aortic distensibility were measured. Multi-weighted, high resolution CMR imaging was used for carotid atheroma characterization according to the American Heart Association (AHA) atheroma classification, modified for CMR. RESULTS: Carotid [1.47±0.03 mm vs. 1.26±0.05 mm, (P<0.01)] and aortic wall thickness [2.95±0.09 mm vs. 2.05±0.07 mm, (P<0.001)] were increased in patients with OSA compared to controls. Aortic distensibility was decreased in patients with OSA [3.62±0.3 vs. 4.75±0.2 mmHg(-1)×10(-3), (P<0.05)]. Prevalence of carotid plaque, average carotid atheroma class, and prevalence of high risk features of carotid atheroma were increased in patients with OSA (P<0.005 for all). On multivariate analysis, Oxygen desaturation index (ODI) emerged as an independent predictor of carotid and aortic wall thickness, but not of aortic stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is associated with increased carotid and aortic atheroma burden and with advanced, high risk carotid atherosclerotic plaques, but not with aortic stiffening.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.03.036

Type

Journal article

Journal

Atherosclerosis

Publication Date

06/2012

Volume

222

Pages

483 - 489

Keywords

Abdominal Fat, Aorta, Thoracic, Aortic Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Carotid Artery Diseases, Carotid Artery, Common, Case-Control Studies, Compliance, England, Female, Humans, Linear Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Plaque, Atherosclerotic, Predictive Value of Tests, Prevalence, Pulsatile Flow, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive