Evalution of echocardiographic parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on cardiac systolic and diastolic function had been evaluated with conventional and tissue Doppler techniques in our study. 50 patients aged from 18 to 55 referred at the sleep department of our hospital for polysomnography had been enrolled in the study. They all had echocardiography in the cardiology department. A group of 25 individuals of similar age group referred at the cardiology outpatient clinic for check up had been taken as control group.The patients with uncontrolled hypertension, chronic obstructive coronary disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, left ventricular hypetrophy assessed with echocardiography, serious valvular disease, liver kidney or thyroid disease, cardiomyopathies and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF:<%40) had been excluded.Their left ventricular systolic function was assessed using the two dimensional Vivid-3 Image point echocardiography on apical four chamber view using modified Simpson method. Diastolic function was evaluated with pulsed and tissue doppler technics.Our study reveled alterations of left ventricular diastolic function, decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction worsening of mitral regurgitation, increase of left atrium diameter, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular wall thickness and increase of pulmonary pressure in statistically significant way.. As patients with diseases leading to alteration of these parameters such as hypertension, diabetes or valvular disease had been excluded from the study, these cardiac findings observed in this particular patient group can be directly related to sleep apnea syndrome. The Tei index asessed by conventional doppler technique was lower in patients with treatment compared to untreated patients. Tei index can be suggested for cardiac lollow up of patients to evaluate the effect of treatment in obstructive sleep apnea patients. With treatment the pulmonary pressures were decreasing even though the difference remained statistically insignificant. This may be related to the beneficial effect of treatment.Sleep apnea syndrome is accompanied with cardiopulmanary complications. Echocardiography can be useful in early diagnosis and follow up of this group of patients.