Oxygen saturation as a predictor of inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea

PURPOSE Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic sleep disorder, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. This disorder has been consistently associated with several comorbidities. Although it is clear that obstructive sleep apnea severity is associated with inflammation, the trigger for this phenomenon continues to puzzle scientists. Here, we investigated the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea severity and immune parameters. METHODS In this cross-sectional epidemiological research, we analyzed the immune profile of 461 adults according to OSA severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and oxygen saturation. RESULTS The hallmark of OSA severity - the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) - weakly correlated with an inflammatory profile. However, individuals who experienced lower oxygen saturation were more likely to exhibit higher total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and an increased concentration of C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION Our findings indicated that oxygen saturation is a predictor of inflammation during OSA and should be considered crucial in disease diagnostic and treatment strategies.