Hematological evaluation in males with obstructive sleep apnea before and after positive airway pressure.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Uncontrolled prospective pre-post observational study without a comparison group.
PubMed 28153627 · doi:10.1016/j.rppnen.2016.12.001
What was done
A prospective study evaluated 73 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS; mean age 46.5 years; 36 mild, 10 moderate, 27 severe) to assess hematological markers across disease severity and respiratory parameters. A subset of 48 patients (mean age 47.2 years) received positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and had hematological measurements repeated after six months.
What was found
Mean RDW increased significantly with OSAS severity and positively correlated with respiratory disturbance index and hypoxemic burdens (exact correlation coefficients and baseline values were not reported in the abstract). After six months of PAP, significant decreases were observed in red blood cell count (p < 0.0001), hemoglobin (p < 0.0001), hematocrit (p = 0.001), and platelet count (p < 0.0001). In mild cases, all four parameters decreased significantly (p < 0.05 for each); in severe cases, significant reductions occurred in hemoglobin (p < 0.0001), hematocrit (p = 0.008), and platelet count (p = 0.018).
Why it matters
This study shows that red blood cell indices and platelet counts decrease following PAP therapy, supporting the role of PAP in reversing hypoxemia-driven hematologic changes in OSAS.
Limits
The study included only males, had a small sample size (n = 73 total, n = 48 receiving PAP), and lacked an untreated control group. Absolute values, effect sizes, and PAP compliance metrics were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports CPAP therapy in patients with sleep apnea lowers elevated hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.