CHINA: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients have higher levels of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) compared to non-OSA controls, according to a recent study in the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology.
OSA patients are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, atherosclerosis, and venous thromboembolism. sP-selectin levels are also associated with an increased risk of the above-mentioned diseases. But it is unclear whether sP-selectin levels in OSA patients are higher than their counterparts as previous studies have yielded inconsistent results.
Against the above background, Yaqing Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China, and colleagues conducted this meta-analysis to determine if soluble P-selectin levels in OSA patients are higher than their counterparts, given a link of raised sP-selectin concentrations with an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and venous thromboembolism.
For this purpose, the researchers searched the online databases for studies that reported sP-selectin levels of both OSA patients and non-OSA controls. Nine eligible studies were finally evaluated.
Key findings of the study include:
When all the studies were pooled, sP-selectin levels in OSA patients were significantly higher than that in controls (SMD = 0.54).
In the subgroup analysis based on BMI matched groups, sP-selectin levels were significantly higher in OSA patients than that in controls (SMD = 0.52).
In the subgroup analysis stratified by blood source, either serum sP-selectin levels or plasma sP-selectin levels in OSA patients were higher than that in controls.
Moderate-to-severe OSA patients had significant higher sP-selectin levels (SMD = 0.80), while mild OSA patients showed no significant difference with controls.
"The pooled results reveal that OSA patients have higher sP-selectin levels than non-OSA controls," wrote the authors. "This conclusion remains unaltered in all subgroups other than the subgroup of mild OSA patients. Additional studies are warranted to better identify the role of sP-selectin as a potential biomarker in OSA patients."
Reference:
The study titled, "Soluble P-selectin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis," is published in the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology.
DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-021-06831-4