Effect of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) on atherosclerosis and cardiac functioning in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with several cardiovascular comorbidities including hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and heart failure. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a frequently performed surgical treatment for OSA. Aims/

Objectives

To analyze if UPPP can improve cardiac parameters associated with atherosclerosis and reduce the cardiac burden in OSA patients. Material and methods: A prospective cohort study was performed at a single tertiary care center where OSA patients undergoing UPPP were evaluated. Preoperative and 6-month postoperative cardiac parameters namely carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), arterial stiffness parameters, echocardiography, and polysomnography (PSG) results were compared.

Results

Fifty three patients were included in the study. The success and response rate of UPPP was 60.4%. Following the surgery, significant reduction in arterial stiffness index (β) (12.4 ± 4.1 vs. 11.2 ± 4.0, p = .01), and elasticity modulus (Ep) (172.8 ± 68.3 vs. 156.6 ± 55.3, p = .05) was noticed. Additionally, echocardiographic parameters namely velocity across aortic valve (121.9 ± 22.9 vs. 109.4 ± 17.7, p = .01) and velocity across pulmonary valve (107.4 ± 16.4 vs. 94.2 ± 16.9, p < .01) significantly decreased following UPPP. Conclusions and significance: UPPP significantly improves parameters related to carotid atherosclerosis and has the potential to reduce cardiac burden in OSA patients.