From March 2009 to August 2010, 51 patientswho underwent polysomnography (PSG) during the night were enrolled in this study. We obtained serum from the patients at 6 AM. DNA damage and oxidative stress were evaluated using a comet assay and measuring serum MDA, respectively. We divided the patients into two groups according to the existence of comets appearing in the comet assay. Group 1 included 44 patients with negative assay results and group 2 consisted of seven patients with positive comet assay findings. We compared the age, gender proportion, PSG data (respiratory disturbance index [RDI], lowest O2 saturation level, and arousal index [AI]), time of disease onset, smoking habits, and serum MDA levels between the two groups.
RESULTS:
The average age and gender proportion of the two groups were not statistically different (P>0.05). The average of RDI for group 1 was 30.4+/-18.4 and 8.0+/-7.7 (P0.05). No relationship between positive comet assay results and OSAS severity was identified.