Sympathetic Activity in Obese Subjects With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Krzysztof Narkiewicz; Philippe J. H van de Borne; Ryan L Cooley; Mark E Dyken; Virend K Somers

doi:10.1161/01.CIR.98.8.772

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Sympathetic Activity in Obese Subjects With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Journal article

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Sympathetic Activity in Obese Subjects With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Krzysztof Narkiewicz, Philippe J. H van de Borne, Ryan L Cooley, Mark E Dyken and Virend K Somers

Circulation (New York, N.Y.), Vol.98(8), pp.772-776

08/25/1998

DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.98.8.772

PMID: 9727547

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Abstract

Background: Obese humans are reported to have increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may also be accompanied by increased MSNA. Because there is a high prevalence of OSA in obese humans, it is possible that high MSNA reported in obese subjects may in fact reflect the presence of OSA in these subjects. We tested the hypothesis that obesity, per se, in the absence of OSA, is not accompanied by increased MSNA. Methods and results: We measured MSNA in 25 healthy normal-weight subjects and 30 healthy sedentary obese subjects. All subjects were screened by history and examination to exclude subjects with OSA or hypertension. OSA was further excluded by overnight polysomnographic studies. Despite careful screening, polysomnography revealed that 1 of 25 normal-weight subjects and 9 of 30 obese subjects had occult OSA (P=0.015). MSNA was similar in normal-weight subjects (41+/-3 bursts per 100 heartbeats) and obese subjects without sleep apnea (42+/-3 bursts per 100 heartbeats, P=0.99). MSNA in the 9 obese subjects with occult OSA was 61+/-8 bursts per 100 heartbeats, which was higher than MSNA in normal-weight subjects without sleep apnea (P=0.02) and higher than MSNA in obese subjects without sleep apnea (P=0.02). Conclusions: Obesity alone, in the absence of OSA, is not accompanied by increased sympathetic activity to muscle blood vessels.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Sympathetic Activity in Obese Subjects With and Without Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Creators: Krzysztof Narkiewicz - From the Cardiovascular Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine (K.N., P.J.H.v.d.B., R.L.C., V.K.S.) and the Department of Neurology (M.E.D.), University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City
Philippe J. H van de Borne - From the Cardiovascular Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine (K.N., P.J.H.v.d.B., R.L.C., V.K.S.) and the Department of Neurology (M.E.D.), University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City
Ryan L Cooley - From the Cardiovascular Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine (K.N., P.J.H.v.d.B., R.L.C., V.K.S.) and the Department of Neurology (M.E.D.), University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City
Mark E Dyken - From the Cardiovascular Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine (K.N., P.J.H.v.d.B., R.L.C., V.K.S.) and the Department of Neurology (M.E.D.), University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City
Virend K Somers - From the Cardiovascular Neurophysiology Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine (K.N., P.J.H.v.d.B., R.L.C., V.K.S.) and the Department of Neurology (M.E.D.), University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Circulation (New York, N.Y.), Vol.98(8), pp.772-776
DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.98.8.772
PMID: 9727547
NLM abbreviation: Circulation
ISSN: 0009-7322
eISSN: 1524-4539
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Language: English
Date published: 08/25/1998
Academic Unit: Neurology
Record Identifier: 9984020724502771

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