RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the correlation between the degree of pathogenetic condition and cogni-tive impairment in young OSAHS patients. Methods Sixty-three patients (18～44 years old) were divided into 3 groups according to the assessment criteria regarding the degrees of pathogenetic conditions of hypoxemia and its persistence time: mild group(the lowest SaO2 ≥ 85 %, n = 20 ), moderate group (the lowest SaO2 : 65 ～ 84 %, n =24), and severe group (the lowest SAO2<65%, n= 19). Twenty-five healthy young adults were selected as the control group. All the subjects were tested with event-related potential, namely P300, the polysomnogram and the mini-mental state examination scale(MMSE). Results P300 latency in patients of three OSAHS groups was sig-nificantly prolonged as 326.1±12.7, 346.9±19.1, and 34.9±18.3 ms, as compared with those of control group: 311.9±18.3 ms (P< 0.05, respectively). In severe group, P300 latency was markedly increased compared with mild and moderate groups(P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). No obvious differences were observed between mild and moderate groups(P=0. 095). The difference of hypoxemia lasting time could influence the P300 latency, such as when the hypoxemia lasting time was 4～60 seconds, the latency was 338. 12±13.7 ms, and when the hypoxemia lasting time increased to 60 ～ 140 s, the latency was prolonged to 354.74±16.7 ms(P = 0. 031 ). There was no difference among all groups in the P300 amplitudes. The MMSE scores for all patients were within normal limits andthere were differences between serve and control group(RA -RB=9. 91, P= 0. 003). Conclusion Among patients with OS-AHS, the impairment of cognitive function is con'anon. The degrees of pathogenetic conditions of hypoxemia and its lasting time may be used to evaluate the impairment degree of cognitive function in patients with OSAHS.