English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is a serious medical condition, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an important identifiable cause of hypertension. Early identification and treatment of sleep disordered breathing contributes to prevention of hypertension, and treatment of OSA may improve blood pressure control as well. This observational study was done to demonstrate the association of sleepdisordered breathing with patients who have systemic hypertension. METHODS Total 94 patients were included in this study. Out of ninety-four patients, eleven patients had mild sleep apnoea, nine patients had moderate sleep apnoea, and twelve had severe sleep apnoea. RESULTS In mild OSA there were four patients with blood pressure < 120 / 80 mmHg while seven patients with blood pressure of 121 - 140 / 81 - 90 and there were four patients with blood pressure 141 / 91. In moderate OSA there were 9, 3, 6 and 1 patients in the group of blood pressure < 120 / 80, 121 - 140 / 81 - 90, > 140 - 160 / 91 - 100 and > 160 / 100 mmHg respectively. In severe obstructive sleep apnoea there were 5, 7, 6 and 2 patients in the group of blood pressure < 120 / 80, 121 - 140 / 81 - 90, 141 - 160 / 91 - 100 and > 160 / 100 mmHg respectively. The severity of hypertension is strongly associated with apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI). CONCLUSIONS This study shows a statistically significant association of hypertension with obstructive sleep apnoea and increased severity of hypertension associated with the increased severity of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). KEY WORDS Hypertension, polysomnography, apnoea / hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Body Mass Index (BMI), obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), obstructive sleep apnoea / hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS)