Key result
Severe OSA impacts exercise tolerance and quality of life similarly to moderate disease in hypertension.
Why the study?
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome is associated with impaired quality of life and reduced exercise capacity, but whether its severity influences these factors in patients with arterial hypertension remained to be determined.
Does the severity of OSAHS influence quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with hypertension?
Observational (n=115)
Does the severity of OSAHS influence quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with hypertension?
In patients with hypertension and OSAHS, the severity of sleep apnea (moderate vs. severe) did not significantly correlate with differences in quality of life or exercise tolerance.
Severity grading of OSAHS may not predict exercise tolerance or quality-of-life differences in hypertension; challenges consensus and leaves open severity-stratified interventions.
Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is associated with impaired quality of life (QOL) and reduced exercise capacity. The aim of the study was to determine whether the severity of OSAHS influences QOL and exercise tolerance in patients with moderate to severe OSAHS and arterial hypertension (HTA). Design and method: The study included 115 consecutive patients with HTN and either moderate (n=40, 34.78%) or severe (n=75, 65.22%) OSAHS. Exercise tolerance was assessed using the exercise stress test (EST). Quality of life was evaluated with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Results: A high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was observed in the study population. Patients with severe OSAHS had significantly higher body mass index and neck circumference. Obesity was also more frequent among patients with severe OSAHS. In addition, this group demonstrated significantly higher apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), desaturation index, and time spent with oxygen saturation below 90%. There were no statistically significant differences in either exercise tolerance or the SF-36 parameters between the groups. Furthermore, no significant correlations were observed between AHI, exercise tolerance, and quality-of-life parameters. Multivessel coronary artery disease was detected in two asymptomatic patients. Conclusions: Patients with OSAHS exhibit multiple cardiovascular risk factors, reduced quality of life, and decreased exercise tolerance. However, the anticipated negative correlations between AHI and physical component summary, mental component summary, and exercise tolerance were not confirmed in our analysis. Our findings underscore the clinical importance of coronary artery disease screening in patients diagnosed with OSAHS.
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Stojanovic et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and hypertension (n=115). Severe OSAHS vs. Moderate OSAHS was evaluated on Exercise tolerance and quality of life (SF-36). In patients with hypertension, severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome did not significantly differ from moderate disease in its impact on exercise tolerance or quality of life.
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