Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Effects of therapy on dyslipidemia

Summary Objective   Dyslipidemia is frequently observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The effects of OSAS treatment on lipid levels in these patients have been examined. Patients and Methods   95 consecutive patients (aged 56.6±9.5 years) with polysomnographically verified OSAS and LDL cholesterol levels of more than 130 mg per deciliter have been included in a prospective trial. Plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein (a) levels were determined in all patients at baseline and after long term therapy. Results   Total cholesterol (249.9 ± 31.4 vs. 240.0 ± 34.1 mg/dL; p = 0.01) and LDL cholesterol levels (179.4 ± 29.4 vs. 165.5 ± 32.5 mg/dL; p < 0.001) decreased significantly after 6 months in patients effectively treated, while they did not change significantly in those OSAS patients in whom treatment proved to be ineffective. Body mass index, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein (a) levels did not change during follow-up. Both the change of total and LDL cholesterol levels were independently associated with treatment efficacy as indicated by the change of the apnea/hypopnea index. Conclusion   The results suggest that effective treatment of sleep-disordered breathing may have significant effects on the total and LDL cholesterol levels in OSAS patients.