Relationship between cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Background and Objective: A non-invasive test called Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) measures aortic stiffness, which is an early sign of atherosclerosis. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a close association with cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We sought to assess the relationship between OSA and arterial stiffness. Material and Method: Seventy-one patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index AHI ≥5, mean age 51.5±14.1 years, 27 females) and 11 controls (AHI <5, mean age 56.8±11.8 years, 5 females) were enrolled in the study. In all subjects, arterial stiffness (CAVI) was performed and recorded along with blood pressure, pulse pressure of brachial arteries, and ankle arteries. Results: The demographic data of the patients with OSA and controls were not significantly different. Subjects with OSA demonstrated higher values of mean ankle artery pulse pressure than the controls (73.1±14.6 vs. 59.6±6.1 mmHg, respectively), but arterial stiffness and CAVI had no statistically significant difference (7.47±1.68 vs. 7.25±1.61, respectively). Conclusion: There was no relationship between arterial stiffness CAVI, and the presence of OSA. However, there was a significant association between ankle artery pulse pressure and the presence of OSA.