Dados do Trabalho

Título

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SEVERITY AND MUSCLE STRENGTH

Introdução

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are known to have lower level of physical fitness, and studies have shown that these patients present reduced muscle strength in upper and lower body, which is an important indicator of physical health. However, the impact of the disease severity on these outcomes is not yet clear

Objetivo

To analyze the association between OSA severity and upper and lower body muscle strength.

Métodos

Ninety three patients with OSA (age: 53.5 ± 12.3 years; body mass index: 53.3 ± 8.4 kg/m²; apnea–hypopnea index: 21.1 ±17.1 events/hours; and 53.8% men) participated in the study. To assess the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of upper body, the participant conducted 3 contractions using maximum force in the isometric handgrip test, each separated by 30 seconds in the dominant arm. The highest value achieved during the test was considered as the MVC. The lower body strength was assessed through the sit-to-stand test, whereas the OSA severity regarding the respiratory events such as the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were assessed by full polysomnography in a sleep laboratory. Body mass index and comorbid conditions were assessed. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between muscle strength and OSA severity

Resultados

AHI and ODI were negatively associated with MVC [β=-0.120 (0.060) kg; b=-0.216, p=0.046 and β=-0.123 (0.053); b=-0.252, p=0.023, respectively], independent of age and body mass index. In addition, no associations were observed between AHI and lower body strength

Conclusões

Patients with greater OSA severity exhibit lower upper body muscle strength.

Palavras -chave

Muscle strength, Obstructive sleep apnea, Physical exercise.