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A syndrome of sleep apnea in morbid obesity

Alberto Herrejón Silvestre

Pneumology and Endocrinology Services, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

E-mail : bhuvaneswari.bibleraaj@uhsm.nhs.uk

Ignacio Inchaurraga Alvarez

Pneumology and Endocrinology Services, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

Eduardo González Constan

Pneumology and Endocrinology Services, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

Carlos Morillas Ariño

Pneumology and Endocrinology Services, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

Rocio Royo Taberner

Pneumology and Endocrinology Services, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

Antonio Hernández Mijares

Pneumology and Endocrinology Services, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

DOI: 10.15761/LBJ.1000107

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Key words

NP: nocturnal pulse oximetry, BMI: body mass index, ESS: Epworth sleepiness scale, SBP: Systolic blood pressure (mmHg), DAP: Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), LM: Lean mass (Kg), FM: Fat mass (Kg), % BF: Percentage of body fat, Glyc: Basal glycemia (mg/dl), Ins: Basal Insulin (IU), Chol: Cholesterol (mg/dl), Tgc: Triglycerides (mg/dl), DLCO: Diffusion of CO (%), KCO: DLCO/alveolar ventilation (%), PIM: Inspiratory mouth pressure at residual volume (cm H2O), PEM: Expiratory pressure in the mouth at total lung capacity (cmH2O), PO2 and PCO2: Partial pressures in arterial blood of O2 and CO2 (mmHg), SO2: O2 arterial saturation (%), Neck: perimeter of neck (cm),W/H: waist/hip index, LM: Lean mass (Kg), % BF: Percentage of body fat (%), FVC: forced vital capacity (%), FEV1: Forced expiratory volume in the first second (%), TLC: Total lung capacity (%), FRC: Functional residual capacity (%), RV: Residual volume (%), PO2: Blood pressure of oxygen (mmHg), PCO2: Blood pressure of carbon dioxide (mmHg), SO2: arterial oxygen saturation (%), Min SO2: Minimum night oxygen saturation (%), Noct SO2: Basal nocturnal oxygen saturation (%), ODI: Number of nocturnal oxygen desaturations greater than 4% per hour, Insp Pres: Continuous inspiratory pressure in the airway (cm H2O), Expi Pres: Continuous expiratory pressure in the airway (cmH2O).

Introduction

Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) is a pathology of high prevalence in the general population, which affects men predominantly, increases with age and is frequently associated with obesity [1,2]. The importance of SAS is due to its high morbidity (arterial hypertension, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and stroke) [3], which causes higher mortality [4].

Obesity has important cardiovascular consequences, with arterial hypertension and affectation of myocardial function [5]. From the respiratory point of view, two syndromes have been associated: Alveolar hypoventilation syndrome and SA [6]. In morbid obesity (MO), the incidence of SAS is 12 to 30 times higher than in the general population [7] and it is recommended that sleep studies be performed routinely in this circumstance [8]. The presence of MO and SAS have a high risk of sudden cardiovascular death, even in the absence of other conventional risk factors [9].

The incidence of SAS in MO varies according to sex with a clear predominance of men [10], with the accumulation of visceral fat being an important risk factor for SAS in obese subjects [11]. However, there are few studies in patients with MO in which comparisons are established by sex or by type of obesity, and the number of patients included in the study is small.

In this study we evaluated, in a large sample of patients with MO, the prevalence of respiratory disorders during sleep and the influence of sex and the type of obesity in them.

Material and methods

At weight 40 kg/m2 (the hospital level, patients with no BMI (body mass index)  in kilograms/height in meters squared) were selected, who were to be submitted to a very low calorie diet (450 Kcal/day) for weight reduction and the following parameters were determined, grouped by sex: age (years), weight (kg), height (cm), BMI (kg/m2), neck circumference, waist at the level of the navel (cm) and hip at the level of major trochanters (cm), waist/hip index (W/H). Central or android type obesity was considered with a W/H index > 1 in males and > 0.9 in females [12]. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) were measured. Body composition was calculated by means of bioelectrical impedanciometry (Holtein), determining the lean mass (kg), fat mass (FM) (kg) and the percentage of body fat (% BF). Hematocrit (Ht), basal glucose (mg/dl), basal insulin (IU), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGC) and HDL, LDL and VLDL cholesterol fractions).

At the respiratory functional level, we performed:

1. Arterial blood pressure (ABL 300 from Radiometer Co, Copenhagen), recording pH, PO2 (mmHg), PCO2 (mmHg) and saturation of O2 (SO2) (%).

2. Flow-volume curve (system 2800 pneumatic catheter from SensorMedics Corporation, California 1984), recording forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (liters) and FEV1/FVC.

3. Static volumes by body plethysmography (Body Box 2800 by SensorMedics), measuring total lung capacity (TLC) (liters), residual volume (RV) (liters) and functional residual capacity (FRC) (liters).

4. By the unique breathing method (SensorMedics 2100 Equipment), the diffusion capacity of CO (DLCO) (mmol/kPa.min), as recommended by ATS [13].

5. Maximum respiratory pressures were determined in the mouth with nasal occlusion by a portable digital pressure gauge (MicroMPM from SensorMedics, Brethoven, Netherland), according to the method of Black and Hyatt [14]. Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) at TLC level in cm H2O, with hands on cheek were measured to minimize the effect of buccinators and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) in cm H2O, with a 1 mm to avoid the suction effect.

The spirometric, plethysmographic and diffusion values of CO were calculated as a percentage of the theoretical, according to the ECSC tables [15], while in the maximum respiratory pressures the tables were used for the Mediterranean population of Morales el al [16].

Daytime somnolence was assessed using the Epworth scale [17], translated and validated in Spanish [18]. Nocturnal pulse oximetry (NP) [19] was performed with a continuous recording, assessing falls in SO2, greater than 4% (ODI), being the pathological record with more than 10 ODI per hour. The minimum night SO2 was recorded. Positive double airway pressure (DPAP) was placed in the nasal mask until normalization of NP, recording inspiratory pressures (cm H2O), expiratory pressure (cm H2O) and system tolerance. Patients were divided into two groups, depending on whether NP was normal or pathological.

Statistical analysis used the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 9.0 for Windows). In the comparisons of means the Student's t was used for independent variables, assessing the equality of variances with the Levene test. The level of significance was set at p <0.05.

Results

A total of 153 patients with MO were studied, of whom 58 (38%) were men and 95 (62%) were women. In men, NP was pathological in 36 (62%) and normal in 22 (38%). In women, NP was pathological in 30 cases (31%) and normal in 65 (69%).

Men with pathological NP had older age, higher BMI (lower stature with similar weight), higher W/H index, and higher values on the drowsiness scale than those with normal BP. Women with pathological NP had older age, weight, BMI, waist, hip, index, and diurnal drowsiness compared to those with normal NP (Table 1).

Table 1. Comparisons in age, daytime sleepiness, sex and parameters anthropometric parameters and nocturnal pulse oximetry in patients with morbid obesity.

NP

Age

(years)

Weight
(Kg)

Height

(cm)

BMI

(Kg/m2)

Waist

(cm)

Hip

(cm)

Waist/
hip index

ESS

Men

Normal

30 (13)

130 (18)

176 (7)

42 (5)

133 (12)

133 (9)

1.00 (0.07)

4 (3)

Patolo gical

44 (13)

136 (25)

173 (6)

46 (8)

139 (18)

132 (17)

1.06 (0.09)

12 (6)

p<

0.001

0.2

0.05

0.03

0.1

0.6

0.009

0.001

Women

Normal

35 (10)

115 (18)

160 (6)

44 (6)

121 (15)

137 (14)

0.89 (0.08)

6 (4)

Patholo gical

50 (10)

128 (20)

159 (6)

51 (7)

135 (15)

145 (14)

0.94 (0.08)

12 (6)

p<

0.001

0.001

0.4

0.001

0.001

0.01

0.02

0.001

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

In men, according to NP results, there were no differences in blood pressure, body composition and analytical determinations, but in women there was higher SBP and baseline glycemia in the pathological NP group (Table 2).

Table 2. Comparisons of the analytical, tensional and corporal parameters in patients with morbid obesity by sex and nocturnal pulse oximetry.

NP

SBP   

DAP

LM

FM

% BF

Ht

Glyc

Ins

Chol

Tgc

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

138 (13)

81 (1)

76 (21)

40 (14)

32 (1)

45 (3)

91 (32)

13 (8)

181 (42)

150 (53)

Pathological

143 (19)

86 (12)

90 (2)

44 (15)

33 (9)

43 (4)

100 (35)

10 (6)

201 (35)

170 (76)

p<

0.3

0.1

0.1

0.6

0.7

0.1

0.3

0.3

0.09

0.2

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

120 (15)

75 (18)

55 (9)

56 (16)

50 (8)

44 (4)

97 (3)

12 (6)

190 (37)

130 (48)

Patholo gical

136 (24)

80 (15)

64 (12)

66 (17)

50 (6)

40 (3)

118 (38)

14 (7)

194 (39)

211

(82)

p<

0.001

0.1

0.03

0.07

0.7

0.4

0.01

0.3

0.6

0.1

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

In the respiratory functional parameters, the men with pathological NP had a lower FVC and PIM, compared to the rest. In women, there was a lower PO2 and SO2 in those with pathological NP (Tables 3,4).

Table 3. Diffusion of CO, muscle pressures and gasometric parameters patients with morbid obesity, according to sex and nocturnal pulse oximetry.

NP

DLCO

KCO

PIM

PEM

pH

PO2

PCO2

SO2

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

89 (15)

74 (12)

119 (31)

116 (36)

7.41 (0.02)

80 (1)

41 (5)

95 (2)

Pathol.

88 (17)

75 (12)

94 (30)

139 (35)

7.41 (0.03)

76 (14)

42 (6)

93 (4)

p<

0.8

0.8

0.02

0.08

0.7

0.3

0.7

0.2

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

81 (17)

75 (13)

82 (24)

92 (32)

7.41 (0.02)

83 (13)

40 (3)

95 (1)

Pathol.

84 (16)

76 (14)

71 (19)

86 (2)

7.41 (0.04)

71 (16)

43 (8)

92 (6)

p<

0.6

0.8

0.1

0.5

0.9

0.02

0.1

0.005

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 4. Spirometric values and static volumes in patients with morbid obesity according to sex and nocturnal pulse oximetry.

NP

DLCO

KCO

PIM

PEM

pH

PO2

PCO2

SO2

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

89 (15)

74 (12)

119 (31)

116 (36)

7.41 (0.02)

80 (1)

41 (5)

95 (2)

Pathol.

88 (17)

75 (12)

94 (30)

139 (35)

7.41 (0.03)

76 (14)

42 (6)

93 (4)

p<

0.8

0.8

0.02

0.08

0.7

0.3

0.7

0.2

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

81 (17)

75 (13)

82 (24)

92 (32)

7.41 (0.02)

83 (13)

40 (3)

95 (1)

Pathol.

84 (16

76 (14)

71 (19)

86 (2)

7.41 (0.04)

71 (16)

43 (8)

92 (6)

p<

0.6

0.8

0.1

0.5

0.9

0.02

0.1

0.005

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

In the OM and SAS groups, women were older (50 ± 11 years), and had a higher BMI (50 ± 6 kg/m2) than men (44 ± 12 years and 46 ± 7 kg/m2) (p <0.002 and p <0.01 respectively). They were also different in the type of obesity and body composition. Men had greater neck circumferences and a central predominance in obesity type, while women had higher fat mass, higher percentage of body fat and lower lean mass (Table 5). Between the two groups there were no differences in pulmonary function parameters (Table 6), but in gasometry and NP. Males had higher mean PO2 and SO2 mean diurnal, lower SO2 mean nocturnal and lower SO2 minimum nocturnal, requiring higher pressures of DPAP than females (Table 7).

Table 5. Body composition in morbidly obese patients with sleep apnea syndrome according to sex.

sex

neck

waist

hip

W/H

FM

LM

%BF

Women

42.7 (2.4)

135 (15)

145 (14)

0.93 (0.08)

66 (17)

64 (12)

50 (8)

Men

46.7 (2.3)

141 (19)

135 (16)

1.07 (0.14)

45 (16)

92 (21)

33 (9)

p<

0.001

0.1

0.01

0.001

0.005

0.001

0.001

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 6. Differences in respiratory functional parameters between men and women with morbid obesity and sleep apnea syndrome.

sex

FVC

FEV1

FEV1/

FVC

TLC

FRC

RV

DLCO

KCO

Women

100 (17)

99 (21)

84 (5)

97 (12)

73 (18)

85 (22)

82 (15)

74 (14)

Men

95 (13)

91 (14)

 79 (8)

95 (21)

72 (21)

91 (32)

90 (17)

77 (12)

p<

0.1

0.07

0.06

0.6

0.9

0.4

0.1

0.4

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 7. Gasometric differences and nocturnal pulse oximetry between men and women with morbid obesity and sleep apnea syndrome.

SEX

pH

PO2

PCO2

SO2

Min SO2

Noct SO2

ODI

Insp Pres

Expi Pres

Women

7.41 (0.03)

69 (13)

44 (8)

91 (6)

62 (12)

89 (7)

49 (33)

11 (3)

5 (1)

Men

7.41 (0.02)

77 (13)

41 (6)

94 (3)

69 (14)

93 (3)

61 (39)

14 (4)

7 (2)

p<

0.9

0.01

0.1

0.03

0.05

0.004

0.1

0.001

0.001

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Discussion

The untreated SAS has important cardio-respiratory consequences, which condition an increase in morbidity and mortality. In most SAS-associated mortality studies, there is a decrease in long-term survival [20]. The most important causes in the increase of the mortality were the cardio-vascular ones [21].

The influence of obesity on the SAS is conditioned by its distribution, mainly due to its location in the upper airway (VAS). There is a greater velo-pharyngeal collapsibility in obese patients with thick necks [22]. The measurement of this fatty deposit in the VAS can be verified with dynamic NMR [23]. Thus, a good correlation (r = 0.63) was observed between SAS and neck circumference [24] or with the measurement of skin folds [25]. On the other hand, upper body obesity or android obesity, measured as waist-to-hip ratio, conditions a greater severity of SAS [26]. The abdominal CT scan has shown that the accumulation of visceral fat is a risk factor for SLE in obese patients [11].

These alterations in high ways occur in different ways according to sex, which would explain the different incidence of SAS in men and women. Thus, between 30 and 60 years the prevalence of SAS in men is 4% and in women of 2%, there is a greater activity of the genioglossus muscle that dilates the upper airway, induced by progesterone [27]. There is also a different neck morphology according to sex, with differences in fat deposition in the neck with greater soft tissue in the upper airway of men [28].

Our results confirm these facts. Comparing normal and SAS men, we found a higher BMI in MO with pathological NP, at the expense of a shorter size with similar weight, as well as a waist/upper index hip. This would tell us about a different distribution of body fat, central type or android. As for body composition, there are no differences in the amount of lean mass and fat mass in these patients. It has also been shown that age is higher in patients with pathological PN, possibly because of age-dependent development of a type of central obesity.

As for women is the total weight, both fat mass and lean mass, regardless of height, which conditions a pathological NP. Although both the hip and waist circumference are superior, in the pathological, an android type distribution is maintained. Likewise, the age is higher, perhaps due to the higher prevalence of SAS in postmenopausal women [29] whose hormonal changes would lead to a greater distribution of central type fat, as has already been demonstrated in other studies [26].

We have verified, in patients with MO and SAS a wider neck in men, with an android type corporal distribution in them. In contrast, women with SAS and MO are older than men, they have more BMI at the expense of greater fat mass and percentage of body fat and have lower lean mass.

On the other hand, we have seen a higher SBP in women with pathological NP as well as superior basal glycemia, in concordance with studies associating SAS with arterial hypertension and elevated insulin resistance [25]. However, in men we have not checked these differences.

In addition to cardiovascular risk, nocturnal respiratory changes condition lower quality of life. Thus, we have seen, in men as well as in women, greater daytime sleepiness, which sometimes becomes invalidating regarding the difference of the respiratory parameters between MO with or without SAS, differences have been described. On the one hand, there is a 50% hypercapnia (PCO2 > 42 mmHg), conditioned by lower VC, TLC and FEV1 [30]. On the other hand, the decrease in VC in patients with SAS is associated with hypertension and central type obesity. In moderately obese patients, those with SAS have lower FEV1, FVC, TLC and PO2 and higher PCO2 than control [31]. The presence of SAS in MO induces greater diurnal hypoxemia [32]. The FRC has shown a negative correlation with the ODI [33]. As for diffusion, an increase in DLCO and KCO has been reported in the obese with SAS, which correlates more with BMI than with SAS itself [35].

Our data provide different behavior in respiratory functional tests according to sex. While in men with SAS and OM we detected a lower FVC and PIM, in women the functional parameters were similar, with a decrease in PO2 and in Sat. of O2. These differences would be justified by their different degree and type of obesity. Comparing men and women with MO and SAS, there are no differences in respiratory functional parameters, but we have observed a lower PO2 and Sat. of O2 in women, although men with SAS and MO have a Sat.  O2 lower, requiring higher pressures of BiPAP with similar ODI. These data coincide with other studies that demonstrate that, in MO, men have a higher severity of nocturnal respiratory disorders [36].

The treatment of MO can improve SAS and the respiratory and gasometric parameters [37,38]. This SAS resolution with weight loss is associated with a decrease in the collapsibility of the upper airway [39] with an improvement in glottal and pharyngeal function [40]. However, SAS may reappear if there is a new weight gain [41], or even without an increase in weight [42]. This indicates that the overweight is not the only pathogenic factor of the SAS, the anatomic-functional situation of the upper airway being more important.

We conclude that nocturnal respiratory alterations may occur more frequently in men than in women, which cause greater daytime sleepiness. These alterations occur in patients with older and higher BMI and an android type obesity. In males, they will produce decreased FVC and PIM and in women diurnal hypoxemia and higher basal glycemia and SAD levels.

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Article Type

Short Communication

Publication history

Received date: May 26, 2017
Accepted date: June 23, 2017
Published date: June 26, 2017

Copyright

© 2017 Silvestre AH. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation

Silvestre A H, Alvarez II, Constan EG, Ariño CM, Taberner RR, et al. (2017) A syndrome of sleep apnea in morbid obesity. Lung Breath J 1: DOI: 10.15761/LBJ.1000107

Corresponding author

Alberto Herrejón Silvestre

Pneumology Service. University Hospital Dr Peset, Avda, Gaspar, Aguilar 90, 46017-Valencia, Spain

E-mail : bhuvaneswari.bibleraaj@uhsm.nhs.uk

Table 1. Comparisons in age, daytime sleepiness, sex and parameters anthropometric parameters and nocturnal pulse oximetry in patients with morbid obesity.

NP

 

Age

(years)   

Weight
(Kg)

Height

(cm)

BMI

(Kg/m2)

Waist

(cm)

Hip

(cm)

Waist/
hip index

ESS

Men

Normal

30 (13)

130 (18)

176 (7)

42 (5)

133 (12)

133 (9)

1.00 (0.07)

4 (3)

Patolo gical

44 (13)

136 (25)

173 (6)

46 (8)

139 (18)

132 (17)

1.06 (0.09)

12 (6)

p<

0.001

0.2

0.05

0.03

0.1

0.6

0.009

0.001

Women

Normal

35 (10)

115 (18)

160 (6)

44 (6)

121 (15)

137 (14)

0.89 (0.08)

6 (4)

Patholo gical

50 (10)

128 (20)

159 (6)

51 (7)

135 (15)

145 (14)

0.94 (0.08)

12 (6)

p<

0.001

0.001

0.4

0.001

0.001

0.01

0.02

0.001

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 2. Comparisons of the analytical, tensional and corporal parameters in patients with morbid obesity by sex and nocturnal pulse oximetry.

NP

SBP   

DAP

LM

FM

% BF

Ht

Glyc

Ins

Chol

Tgc

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

138 (13)

81 (1)

76 (21)

40 (14)

32 (1)

45 (3)

91 (32)

13 (8)

181 (42)

150 (53)

Pathological

143 (19)

86 (12)

90 (2)

44 (15)

33 (9)

43 (4)

100 (35)

10 (6)

201 (35)

170 (76)

p<

0.3

0.1

0.1

0.6

0.7

0.1

0.3

0.3

0.09

0.2

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

120 (15)

75 (18)

55 (9)

56 (16)

50 (8)

44 (4)

97 (3)

12 (6)

190 (37)

130 (48)

Patholo gical

136 (24)

80 (15)

64 (12)

66 (17)

50 (6)

40 (3)

118 (38)

14 (7)

194 (39)

211

(82)

p<

0.001

0.1

0.03

0.07

0.7

0.4

0.01

0.3

0.6

0.1

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 3. Diffusion of CO, muscle pressures and gasometric parameters patients with morbid obesity, according to sex and nocturnal pulse oximetry.

NP

DLCO

KCO

PIM

PEM

pH

PO2

PCO2

SO2

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

89 (15)

74 (12)

119 (31)

116 (36)

7.41 (0.02)

80 (1)

41 (5)

95 (2)

Pathol.

88 (17)

75 (12)

94 (30)

139 (35)

7.41 (0.03)

76 (14)

42 (6)

93 (4)

p<

0.8

0.8

0.02

0.08

0.7

0.3

0.7

0.2

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

81 (17)

75 (13)

82 (24)

92 (32)

7.41 (0.02)

83 (13)

40 (3)

95 (1)

Pathol.

84 (16)

76 (14)

71 (19)

86 (2)

7.41 (0.04)

71 (16)

43 (8)

92 (6)

p<

0.6

0.8

0.1

0.5

0.9

0.02

0.1

0.005

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 4. Spirometric values and static volumes in patients with morbid obesity according to sex and nocturnal pulse oximetry.

NP

DLCO

KCO

PIM

PEM

pH

PO2

PCO2

SO2

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

89 (15)

74 (12)

119 (31)

116 (36)

7.41 (0.02)

80 (1)

41 (5)

95 (2)

Pathol.

88 (17)

75 (12)

94 (30)

139 (35)

7.41 (0.03)

76 (14)

42 (6)

93 (4)

p<

0.8

0.8

0.02

0.08

0.7

0.3

0.7

0.2

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal

81 (17)

75 (13)

82 (24)

92 (32)

7.41 (0.02)

83 (13)

40 (3)

95 (1)

Pathol.

84 (16

76 (14)

71 (19)

86 (2)

7.41 (0.04)

71 (16)

43 (8)

92 (6)

p<

0.6

0.8

0.1

0.5

0.9

0.02

0.1

0.005

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 5. Body composition in morbidly obese patients with sleep apnea syndrome according to sex.

sex

neck

waist

hip

W/H

FM

LM

%BF

Women

42.7 (2.4)

135 (15)

145 (14)

0.93 (0.08)

66 (17)

64 (12)

50 (8)

Men

46.7 (2.3)

141 (19)

135 (16)

1.07 (0.14)

45 (16)

92 (21)

33 (9)

p<

0.001

0.1

0.01

0.001

0.005

0.001

0.001

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 6. Differences in respiratory functional parameters between men and women with morbid obesity and sleep apnea syndrome.

sex

FVC

FEV1

FEV1/

FVC

TLC

FRC

RV

DLCO

KCO

Women

100 (17)

99 (21)

84 (5)

97 (12)

73 (18)

85 (22)

82 (15)

74 (14)

Men

95 (13)

91 (14)

 79 (8)

95 (21)

72 (21)

91 (32)

90 (17)

77 (12)

p<

0.1

0.07

0.06

0.6

0.9

0.4

0.1

0.4

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.

Table 7. Gasometric differences and nocturnal pulse oximetry between men and women with morbid obesity and sleep apnea syndrome.

SEX

pH

PO2

PCO2

SO2

Min SO2

Noct SO2

ODI

Insp Pres

Expi Pres

Women

7.41 (0.03)

69 (13)

44 (8)

91 (6)

62 (12)

89 (7)

49 (33)

11 (3)

5 (1)

Men

7.41 (0.02)

77 (13)

41 (6)

94 (3)

69 (14)

93 (3)

61 (39)

14 (4)

7 (2)

p<

0.9

0.01

0.1

0.03

0.05

0.004

0.1

0.001

0.001

Values expressed as mean and standard deviation.