Possible changes in hematological parameters of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea
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Original Article
P: 97-102
September 2019

Possible changes in hematological parameters of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Gulhane Med J 2019;61(3):97-102
1. University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Medical Faculty, Department of Chest Diseases, Ankara, Turkey
2. University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Medical Faculty, Department of Hematology, Ankara, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 05.11.2018
Accepted Date: 06.02.2019
Publish Date: 15.09.2019
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ABSTRACT

Aims:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may cause secondary erythrocytosis due to sustained hypoxemia. However, controversial findings have also been reported. The present study investigated the relationship between hematological parameters and OSA severity.

Methods:

This retrospective study included individuals who underwent a polysomnography test. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on their apnea-hypopnea index: normal, mild, moderate, and severe OSA. Hemoglobin (HGB), red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC), #neutrophil, #lymphocyte, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were evaluated.

Results:

The total sample included 400 patients. Mean HGB, RBC, HCT and ESR were significantly higher in severe OSA group (p=0.05, p=0.05, p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively). Mean MCV was significantly lower in subjects with OSA (p=0.01). RDW-CV showed association to the OSA severity (p=0.01), but RDW-SD was similar in OSA groups (p=0.07). Mean AHI, ESR and LDH were higher in obese patients (p=0.001, p=0.01, p=0.005, respectively). While mean HGB, RBC, HCT values were higher in obese cases (p=0.05, p=0.05, p=0.01), mean MCV was higher in nonobese individuals (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that the severity of OSA can modify HGB and HCT levels in the complete blood count. Whether the magnitude of such a stimulation is high enough to cause secondary polycythemia needs further studies.

Keywords:
obstructive sleep apnea, erythrocytosis, hemoglobin, red blood cell, hematocrit, body mass index.