| Controls | Apnoeic patients | p-value | |
| Subjects n | 13 | 16 | |
| Age years | 54.21±6.61 | 57.28±6.00 | 0.20 |
| BMI kg·m−2 | 30.36±2.75 | 31.52±1.54 | 0.19 |
| Apnoea/hypopnoea index | 1.69±1.61 | 33.94±18.78 | <0.01 |
| Minimum oxygen saturation % | 91.07±4.00 | 82.62±3.76 | <0.01 |
| Waist circumference cm | 96.67±10.13 | 102.06±6.40 | 0.12 |
| Sleep latency min | 13.54±7.30 | 21.54±11.63 | 0.04 |
| WASO min | 55.78±33.77 | 90.67±53.35 | 0.05 |
| TST min | 411.64±37.19 | 368.77±54.69 | 0.02 |
| TST % | 85.61±8.02 | 76.69±11.43 | 0.02 |
| N1 % | 11.64±7.71 | 14.60±5.60 | 0.26 |
| N2 % | 60.49±6.77 | 52.95±10.46 | 0.03 |
| SWS % | 15.53±10.05 | 19.03±10.02 | 0.34 |
| REM % | 12.33±5.56 | 13.39±6.64 | 0.65 |
| REM latency min | 154.34±89.29 | 135.14±71.05 | 0.53 |
| Blood pressure mmHg | |||
| Systolic | 123.62±10.60 | 130.69±16.21 | 0.19 |
| Diastolic | 76.15±5.39 | 75.00±12.87 | 0.76 |
| Hypertension# % | 30.8 | 50.0 | 0.29 |
| Smoking (current) % | 7.7 | 0.0 | 0.25 |
| Lipid-lowering medication¶ % | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.08 |
| ESS | 8.90±3.59 | 10.81±5.34 | 0.28 |
Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. WASO: wake after sleep onset; TST: total sleep time; N1: stage 1 sleep; N2: stage 2 sleep; SWS: slow-wave sleep; REM: rapid eye movement sleep; ESS: Epworth Sleepiness Scale. #: defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or as the use of antihypertensive medication; ¶: defined as use of statins and/or fibrates.