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This study investigated hemodynamic characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) accompanied by hypertensive disease in obese men, in whom blood pressure was pharmacologically controlled within the normal range, not exceeding 140/90 mmHg. There were 21 severe OSA patients (mean age 54.1 ± 9.3 years, apnea-hypopnea index of 47.1 ± 18.8 episodes per hour) included in the study, in whom OSA was diagnosed with polysomnography. The control group consisted of healthy normotensive age-matched subjects. Hemodynamic profile was recorded nonivasively with impedance cardiography. Brachial blood pressure and radial artery tonometry were performed to capture and reconstruct peripheral radial and central aortic pressure waveforms in both groups of subjects. Compared to healthy men, OSA patients had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI); the mean increase in BMI amounted to 6.4 ± 1.2 kg/m 2 . The patients also presented significant differences in the hemodynamic profile. The difference consisted of a faster heart rate, higher peripheral pulse pressure, and reduced blood flow acceleration and velocity indices, describing myocardial contractility. Notably, the significance of hemodynamic differences in OSA patients disappeared in the analysis adjusted for the outstanding increase in BMI. In conclusion, the findings strongly suggest that obesity rather than the hypertensive disease per se is a source of hemodynamic consequences in OSA patients.

The aim of this study was to elucidate body composition, anthropometric indices, and hydration status in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, taking into account different disease stages, gender, and the possibility of the presence of cachexia. There were 98 OSA patients and 23 control subjects enrolled into the study. All study participants underwent polysomnography examination. Body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), fat free mass, muscle mass, body cell mass, total body water, and extracellular and intracellular water were evaluated. The neck, abdominal, and waist circumference was measured. We found that overweight and obesity were present in 96% of patients. Cachexia was present in one OSA individual with comorbidities. Apnea-hypopnea index correlated with the neck and waist circumference, and with BMI in OSA patients. All muscle indices and water contents above outlined were significantly higher in severe OSA compared with control subjects. BMI, FMI, neck circumference, and extracellular water were greater in a subset of severe OSA compared with a moderate OSA stage. The female OSA patients had a higher FMI than that present in males at a comparable BMI. We conclude that the most body composition indices differed significantly between severe OSA patients and control subjects. A higher FMI in females at a comparable BMI could be due to a discordance between BMI and FMI. Cachexia occurs rarely in OSA and seems to coexist with comorbidities.