Levels of TBARS are inversely associated with lowest oxygen saturation in obese patients with OSAS.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the most important factors that determine lipid peroxidation in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

Twenty-one obese patients with OSAS based on overnight attended polysomnography were included. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in serum. Anthropometric measurements were carried out. Dietary habits were assessed by a standardised food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

Spearman's correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between TBARS and apnoea-hypopnoea index and desaturations/hour while negative between TBARS and mean/lowest oxygen saturation. The most significant predicting factor in the multiple linear regression model was lowest oxygen saturation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has revealed an independent association between lowest oxygen saturation and TBARS levels after controlling for age, gender, diet and obesity in predominantly male patients with moderate to severe OSAS.