Aortic Pressure Augmentation as a Marker of Cardiovascular Risk in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

116 men, including 45 consecutive male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) (mean age 56.0±9.6 years) referred to a sleep clinic and not receiving regular medication, and 71 age-matched healthy male controls (mean age 56.2±7.6 years) without OSAS, free from medication, and with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) diagnosis (apnea-hypopnea index ≥5/h). A subgroup of 19 patients with severe OSAS (AHI ≥20/h) received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for 3 months.

Healthy age-matched male controls without OSAS. For the CPAP subgroup, the comparator was their own baseline measurements prior to 3 months of treatment.

Aortic pressure augmentation (AG) derived from the pressure waveform measured at the radial artery by applanation tonometry.surrogate