Heart ultrasound signs that may predict severe obstructive sleep apnea

A total of 93 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were analyzed for echocardiographic abnormalities.

• Patients were categorized into mild to moderate OSA (5≤ AHI< 30/H) and severe OSA (AHI≥ 30/H) based on the apnea hypopnea index.
• Severe OSA patients exhibited higher left ventricular end-systolic diameter (47.6±7.2 vs. 46.2±4.7), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (31.3±6.2 vs. 28.9±4.5), and interventricular septum thickness (12.7±2.4 vs. 11.7±2.5) compared to mild to moderate OSA patients.
• Lower left ventricular ejection fraction (62.1±9.7) and fractional shortening (32.5±6.3) were observed in severe OSA, although the differences were not statistically significant.
• A significant association exists between the severity of OSA and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, right ventricular internal diameter, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure, with p-values of 0.05, 0.05, and 0.03 respectively.
• The right ventricular internal diameter was independently associated with the severity of OSA, indicated by an adjusted odds ratio of 1.33.

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