Evaluation of inflammatory markers in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation indices and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Specifically, we evaluated whether the Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) could serve as predictive or supplementary markers for OSAS prognosis and severity. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 263 patients diagnosed with OSAS. Based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), patients were categorized into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe OSAS. Inflammatory markers including SII, SIRI, NLR, and PIV were calculated using routine hematological parameters and compared across the groups to determine their association with disease severity. Results All examined inflammatory indices (NLR, SII, SIRI, and PIV) showed statistically significant differences across the OSAS severity groups. Specifically, these markers were significantly elevated in the severe OSAS group compared to the mild and moderate groups ( p < .05). The results support the hypothesis that increased systemic inflammation is associated with more severe forms of OSAS. Conclusions Inflammatory markers such as SII, SIRI, NLR, and PIV may serve as useful tools in assessing OSAS severity and could assist in clinical decision-making. Given their ease of calculation from standard blood tests, these indices may offer practical value in evaluating prognosis and tailoring treatment strategies for patients with OSAS.