OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on blood lipid and blood glucose in elderly hypertensive patients.

METHODa One hundred and seven elderly hypertensive patients received examinations by polysomnography and according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the patients were divided into four groups, namely uncomplicated hypertension group (n=23) and 3 hypertension groups with mild (n=31), moderate (n=29) and severe (n=24) OSAS. The fasting and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), Apo-A, and Apo-B of these patients were measured.

RESULTSaCompared with the non-OSAS patients, all the OSAS patients showed increased fasting and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL and TC/HDL, and the increments were statistically significant in severe OSAS patients (P<0.05). The level of HDL was lowered in the OSAS groups, showing significant difference between severe OSAS group and the non-OSAS group (P<0.05). Apo-A level was lowered and Apo-B increased in the OSAS groups, but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOSAS may produce harmful affect on the blood glucose and blood lipids in elderly hypertensive patients.