Correlations between severity of nocturnal hypoxemia and level of Galectin-3 in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a widespread respiratory disorder and it is associated with cardiogical comorbidities. Galectin-3 is a seric protein used as biomarker of cardiac macrophages activation and it is upregulated in failing and remodelling hearts. Aims: To evaluate correlations between seric level of galectin-3 and nocturnal cardiorespiratory indices, such as Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI), Total Sleep Time with oxyhemoglobin saturation Methods: We enrolled patients affected by OSA defined at our sleep center according to International Classification of Sleep Disorder Breathing III edition (Sateia MJ, Chest 2014;146(5):1387-1394). Patients affected by Overlap Syndrome (OSA-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) were excluded. We evaluated linear correlation between hypnological parameters (AHI, ODI, TST90 and mean nocturnal SpO2) and seric level of Galectin-3. Statistical significance: p Results: 75 patients were eligible for the study. There was no correlation between AHI, ODI and seric level of galectin-3. A significant direct correlation was found between TST90 and Galectin-3 (p:0.00, r:0,360). Moreover, a significant negative correlation was found between mean nocturnal SpO2 and Galectin-3 (p:0.00, r:-0,356). Conclusions: In OSA patients, severity of nocturnal hypoxemia (TST90/mean nocturnal SpO2), rather than number of obstructive events for hour (AHI), could contribute to cardiac remodelling and therefore to the onset of cardiological comorbidities.