Carotid intima-media thickness increase in patients with habitual simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with metabolic syndrome

Objectives Sleep disorders are emerging risk factors for atherosclerosis. Increased carotid intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) is a surrogate marker of cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CCA-IMT and habitual simple snoring or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods Sleep disorders were diagnosed and staged by polysomnography. Patients were then classified into either habitual simple snoring (n=20, group 1) or OSAS (n=67, group 2), which was subclassified as mild-moderate (n=27) or severe (n=40). CCA-IMT was measured by B-mode ultrasonography. The other major risk factors were investigated. Results The mean CCA-IMT was 0.65 +/- 0.02 mm (mean +/- SD) in group 1 versus 0.75 +/- 0.02 mm in group 2 (p=0.03). Using CCA-IMT0. 9 mm as the threshold value also yielded significant results between the two groups (p=0.03). The mean CCA-IMT did not differ between patients with mild-moderate and severe OSAS, whereas metabolic risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MS) were more prominent in the latter. Age, MS, neck and waist circumference, waist/ hip circumference, and fasting glucose level were higher in patients with CCA-IMT0.9 mm. Conclusions CCA-IMT increase was associated with OSAS, but did not correlate with its severity, which could be due to the higher incidence of MS in this group. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 41:290296, 2013