Can improvements in sleep quality positively affect serum adiponectin-levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

Abstract

BackgroundAssess if changes in sleep quality (Sleep Quality Index, SQI) based on cardiopulmonary coupling-analysis (CPC) impacts serum adiponectin-levels in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). MethodsSecondary analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) data from the Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment study (HeartBEAT), a multicenter, controlled trial in patients with CVD and moderate-severe sleep apnea, randomly assigned to intervention of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Nocturnal Supplemental Oxygen (NSO) or Healthy Lifestyle and Sleep Hygiene Education (HLSE; control group). Participants with good-quality ECG-signal (n = 241) were included. ResultsImproving CPC-sleep quality was associated with net average improvements in serum adiponectin-levels 2.69 μg/ml (p = 0.005) irrespective of therapy initiated. After controlling for confounders, a unit increase in SQI was associated with increase in serum adiponectin-levels 0.071 μg/ml (p = 0.012) and decrease in insulin-levels 0.197 μIU/ml (p = 0.0018). Similarly, a percentage point increase in sleep apnea indicator (SAI) was associated with decrease in serum adiponectin-levels of 0.071 μg/ml (p = 0.017) and increase in insulin-levels of 0.218 μIU/ml (p = 0.020). A percentage point increase in CPC-sleep fragmentation (eLFCBB) had a predicted increase in glucose-levels 0.371 mg/dl (p = 0.009) and insulin-levels 0.284 μIU/ml (p = 0.010).In patients receiving CPAP-therapy, a difference in serum adiponictin levels of 3.82 μg/ml (p = 0.025) is observed comparing patients in which SQI-improved to patients that SQI-declined during the study period. The difference is mostly due to a decrease in serum adiponectin levels in patients that decline in SQI (−3.20 μg/ml). ConclusionImprovements in sleep quality were associated with higher serum adiponectin-levels, and improved measures of glycemic metabolism which may have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular health. Clinical trial registration name and numberThe Heart Biomarker Evaluation in Apnea Treatment (HeartBEAT) study is registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01086800.