Circadian rhythms in blood pressure, heart rate, hormones, and on polysomnographic parameters in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients: effect of continuous positive airway pressure

摘要

Introduction Seventeen male patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS; apnea-hypopnea index > 30/h) were monitored by polysomnography in the sleep lab before and after about 8 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Twelve of the patients were hypertensive, but treated by antihypertensive drugs. The circadian rhythms in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate were determined by ambulatory BP monitoring and motor activity was monitored by a motion logger. As the sympathetic tone is reported to be increased in sleep apnea, the circadian rhythm in plasma norepinephrine was studied in parallel and as a marker rhythm of the biological clock plasma melatonin was determined around the clock by radioimmunoassay.