One hundred and fifteen obese patients (56 males, 59 females) with polysomnographic evidence of OSA (¡Ý 5 apnea/hypopnea events per hour) of various degrees, without significant differences in grade of obesity as defined by body mass index (BMI), were evaluated. The following parameters were measured: BMI, body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, EFT, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVEDD) and cIMT by ultrasound, and parameters of metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, arterial blood pressure, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides).
EFT, RVEDD, cIMT and trunk/leg fat mass ratio showed a positive correlation with OSA severity in univariate analysis (r = 0.536, p < 0.001; r = 0.480, p < 0.001; r = 0.345, p < 0.001; r = 0.330, p < 0.001, respectively). However, multiple linear regression analysis showed that EFT was the most significant independent correlate of the severity of OSA (R2 = 0.376, p = 0.022).
The present study suggests that, in obese patients, EFT may be included among the clinical parameters associating with OSA severity. The association of EFT with OSA, both cardiovascular risk factors, is independent of obesity as defined by classical measures.