Reversibility of microalbuminuria with continuous positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Abstract

Microalbuminuria is an early marker of kidney damage and an early predictor and risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association between albuminuria levels in different severity obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) cases and to find out the efficacy of CPAP treatment on microalbuminuria. We conducted a prospective study on subjects who underwent polysomnography. The polysomnographic data were recorded to establish the presence and severity of OSAS. The blood and urine samples were taken both at the time of diagnosis and 3months after CPAP therapy. The relationship between the severity of OSAS and microalbuminuria and the effect of CPAP treatment on microalbuminuria were evaluated. The study population consisted of 449 subjects. Better compliance to CPAP was associated with significantly reduced levels of microlbuminuria. Urinary albumin/creatinine was increased in severe cases, but the difference was not statistically significant. In the non-compliant group, microalbumin/creatinine ratio was 25.24 prior to initiation of CPAP treatment and 28.36 at the third month control visit (p = 0.25). In the compliant group, microalbumin/creatinine ratio was 49.71 prior to initiation of CPAP treatment and 22.30 at the third month control visit (p = 0.04). Our study demonstrated that good compliance to CPAP therapy is associated with a decrease in microalbuminuria. Patients who used CPAP regularly had a significant decline in albumin/creatinine ratio after 3months of CPAP therapy.