ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To investigate the correlation between vascular endothelial function and aortic compliance in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) and hypertension. METHODS A total of 103 OSAHS cases were divided into simple OSAHS group(n=55) and OSAHS complicated with hypertension group(n=48, OSAHS+HT group). 20 patients with simple hypertension were included into the hypertension group, and 20 healthy people served as controls. Vascular endothelial function was evaluated by detecting flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery(FMD) with color Doppler; the changes of aortic compliance in patients were detected by echocardiography. RESULTS The FMD, aortic tension and aortic distensibility index levels of OSAHS with hypertension group were significantly lower than the normal control group, hypertension group and OSAHS group(P<0.05); The aortic stiffness index level of OSAHS hypertension group was significantly higher than the normal group, the high blood pressure group and OSAHS group(P<0.05); Analysis of Spearman correlation coefficient of patients in OSAHS with hypertension group found aortic FMD were positively correlated with aortic stiffness index, negatively correlated with aortic tension index and aortic expansion; The aortic FMD, aortic tension, swelling index and aortic stiffness index in OSAHS hypertension group had positive correlation with AHI (P<0.05), and negative correlation with LSaO2(P<0.05). CONCLUSION OSAHS is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction and decreased aortic compliance. When combined with hypertension, vascular endothelial function and aortic compliance will be significantly affected. The severity of OSAHS was closely related to the decrease of vascular endothelial function and the changes of aortic compliance.