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Journal Article 2009; 30(1): 61-66 PubMed PMID: 19300383 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Carotid Arteries:pathology, Carotid Stenosis:complications, Case-Control Studies, Comorbidity, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Neck:anatomy & histology, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive:complications,.   

OBJECTIVES: Sleep apnea is associated with advanced atherosclerosis. This study was focused on sleep breathing in patients with hemodynamically significant carotid stenosis, currently free from clinical symptoms.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS: 17 patients with carotid artery stenosis of 70% and more in the absence of actual neurological symptoms indicated for non-acute endarterectomy, and 17 age- and sex-matched controls were examined using sleep polygraphy. 12 patients had a follow-up sleep polygraphy a month after the surgery.

RESULTS: The criteria of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were met by 4 patients prior to operation, by 2 patients after the operation, and by 2 control subjects. The pre-surgery apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was 14 (+/-SD=17.0), post-surgery 8.3 (+/-9.0) and in the controls 6.7(+/-6.7). The pre-surgery oxygen desaturation index was 20.1 (+/-17.7), post-surgery 15.0 (+/-12.0) and in the controls 11.6 (+/-6.1). A comparison between the pre-surgery results seen in the patients and in controls after adjustment for BMI revealed no significant difference. The only significant difference between the pre-surgery and post-surgery values was found in the AHI (P=0.045).

CONCLUSION: According to this study there exists an association between carotid stenosis and OSA, however this association is explainable by a higher BMI. The study also found a tendency toward OSA alleviation in response to endarterectomy....

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