E-34 Free Communication/Poster - Dance

Abstract

Sleep patterns and their disorders in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) have been studied because they can modify the physical and functional aspects of the disease. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to verify the influence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on knee extensor torque, pain, stiffness and physical function in men with low-grade knee OA. METHODS: The study included 60 male volunteers between 40 and 70 years of age divided into 4 groups: G1 (n=15): without OA or OSA; G2 (n=15): without OA and with OSA; G3 (n=15): with OA and without OSA; and G4 (n=15): with OA and OSA. All volunteers were examined using knee x-rays and polysomnography, responded to the WOMAC questionnaire and completed a test on an isokinetic dynamometer to evaluate peak isometric knee extensor torque, both concentric and eccentric (90°/s and 180°/s). Comparisons of the means were performed using a General Linear Model. RESULTS: The results on the sleep pattern of the volunteers showed between-group differences for stage 1, with G2 and G4 showing a higher percentage of stage 1 compared to G1 (p<0.05). The number of arousals was higher in G4, which significantly differed from G1 (p<0.05), and an identical result was observed for G2 which, differed from that for G1 (p<0.05). Regarding the data from the WOMAC questionnaire (pain, stiffness and physical function), it was observed that for all domains, G4 showed higher values compared to G1 or G2 (p<0.05). For the concentric isometric and isokinetic peak knee extensor torque (90°/s and 180°/s), lower values were observed in G4 compared to G1 or G2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that OSA negatively affects sleep, peak extensor torque, pain, stiffness and physical function in patients with low-grade OA. Supported by FAPESP Grant (#11/06619-7 and #10/19437-1)