Effects of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Left Ventricular Concentric Hypertrophy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal left ventricular (LV) geometry, especially concentric hypertrophy, is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the LV geometric patterns. METHODS: The LV morphological parameters, including the LV mass index (LVMI) and the relative wall thickness (RWT), were evaluated using echocardiography in 37 patients with OSAS diagnosed on polysomnography and 34 control subjects. Based on the values of LVMI and RWT, the LV geometry was classified as normal, concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy or eccentric hypertrophy. The echocardiographic parameters were reassessed after three months of CPAP treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the OSAS patients had a higher proportion of concentric hypertrophy patterns (54% vs. 0%, p<0.001) and a lower proportion of normal geometric patterns (5% vs. 62%, p<0.001). A univariate logistic regression analysis showed the apnea-hypopnea index, lowest oxygen saturation, hypoxemia index and body mass index to each be significantly associated with the presence of concentric hypertrophy. In a multivariate analysis of these factors, the apnea-hypopnea index was found to be a significant independent factor associated with the presence of concentric hypertrophy (odds ratio: 1.06, p=0.008). Three months of CPAP treatment resulted in significant decreases in LVMI and the proportion of cases with concentric hypertrophy (both p=0.025). CONCLUSION: In our limited study population, OSAS patients were found to be associated with a high prevalence of concentric LV hypertrophy patterns that were able to be reversed with three months of CPAP treatment.