RESUMO
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) combined with heart failure (HF) has become a serious disease that threatens human health. Therapeutic interventions targeting OSAS have been shown to improve outcomes in patients with HF, so the identification of severe OSAS in HF is critical. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is associated with inflammation and volume overload. The levels of CA125 are elevated in the serum of patients with HF and might be further elevated in patients with HF and OSAS. The aim of this study was to measure CA125 levels in patients with HF with and without OSAS and to analyze affecting factors. Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, a total of 95 patients diagnosed with HF hospitalized in Zhongda Hospital from April 2021 to April 2022 were recruited, including 55 patients with OSAS and 40 patients without OSAS. Participants with a history of central sleep apnea syndrome, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tumors, severe infection, or who were pregnant were excluded. The histories of the participants were recorded, and laboratory examinations were performed. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between serum CA125 levels and OSAS in patients with HF. Results: The serum CA125 levels were higher in the HF + OSAS group than in the HF group (29.60 vs. 9.68 U/mL, P<0.001). According to the univariate analysis, CA125 (>35 U/mL) was significantly related to pleural effusion, acute HF, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. Finally, the AHI demonstrated statistical significance in multiple analyses (OR 1.070, 95% CI: 1.019-1.124, P=0.006). Spearman rank correlation coefficient analysis showed that CA125 was positively correlated with AHI, and Ln(CA125) (Ln is the natural logarithm based on e) gradually increased with increasing AHI (r=0.551, P<0.0001). Conclusions: The levels of CA125 were further increased in patients with HF and OSAS, and CA125 (>35 U/mL) was positively correlated with AHI. As a biomarker associated with inflammation and congestion, serum CA125 may have certain value in the diagnosis of patients with HF combined with OSAS.
