Abstract
Introduction: A risk of a cardiovascular event increases with the number of cardiovascular risk factors.
Aims: The aim of this prospective study was: To identify Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) patients at high risk of OSA, using Berlin questionnaire (BQ) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and 2. To decrypt the clinical characteristics of ACS patients at high risk of OSA.
Methods: We studied 158 consecutive patients, assessed by BQ and the ESS. The high risk of OSA was defined as cumulative high risk, based on BQ and ESS scores higher than 10 in a scale of 24.
Results: Fifty four (34.2%) patients were at high risk. On admission patients at high risk of OSA had significantly often history of hypertension (92.6% vs. 55.8%; p<0.0001), diabetes mellitus (37% vs. 15.4%; p=0.0049), significantly higher mean ESS (14.83±3.02 vs. 5.83±3.33; p<0.0001), systolic blood pressure (149.9±34.2 vs. 128.4±23.6 mmHg; p<0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (87.7±17.4 vs. 76.2±12.1 mmHg; p<0.0001), Body Mass Index (32.3±4.6 vs. 27±3.8 kg/m2; p<0.0001), and lower Glomerular Filtration Rate (79.5±21.2 vs. 87.5±22.2 ml/min/1.73 m2; p=0.048). Patients at high risk of OSA had often onset of acute chest pain between midnight and 5.59 am compared to the patients at low risk (42.6% vs. 26%; p<0.05). Mortality (7.4% vs. 1%; p=0.03) was more frequent in patients at high risk of OSA.
Conclusions: Every third ACS patient was diagnosed with OSA. Cardiologists should routinely screen and evaluate myocardial infarction patients for sleep disorders, especially when they are obese, have hypertension, and chest pain in the night hours.
- © 2011 ERS
