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. 2023 May 31;13(6):914.
doi: 10.3390/biom13060914.

Serum Urotensin II Levels Are Elevated in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Ante Mihovilovic  1 , Zoran Dogas  2 , Dinko Martinovic  1 , Daria Tokic  3 , Ema Puizina Mladinic  1 , Marko Kumric  4 , Natalija Ivkovic  2 , Marino Vilovic  4 , Josko Bozic  4
Affiliations

Serum Urotensin II Levels Are Elevated in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Ante Mihovilovic et al. Biomolecules. .

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has become major public concern and is continuously investigated in new aspects of pathophysiology and management. Urotensin II (UII) is a powerful vasoconstrictor with a role in cardiovascular diseases. The main goal of this study was to evaluate serum UII levels in OSA patients and matched controls. A total of 89 OSA patients and 89 controls were consecutively enrolled. A medical history review and physical examination of the participants was conducted, with polysomnography performed in the investigated group. UII levels and other biochemical parameters were assessed according to the standard laboratory protocols. The median AHI in the OSA group was 39.0 (31.4-55.2) events/h, and they had higher levels of hsCRP when compared to control group (2.87 ± 0.71 vs. 1.52 ± 0.68 mg/L; p < 0.001). Additionally, serum UII levels were significantly higher in the OSA group (3.41 ± 1.72 vs. 2.18 ± 1.36 ng/mL; p < 0.001), while positive correlation was found between UII levels and hsCRP (r = 0.450; p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (SPB) (r = 0.317; p < 0.001). Finally, multiple regression analysis showed significant association of UII levels with AHI (0.017 ± 0.006, p = 0.013), SBP (0.052 ± 0.008, p < 0.001) and hsCRP (0.538 ± 0.164, p = 0.001). As UII levels were associated with blood pressure and markers of inflammation and OSA severity, it might play an important role in the complex pathophysiology of OSA and its cardiometabolic complications.

Keywords: inflammation; obstructive sleep apnea; urotensin II.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of the serum urotensin II levels between the OSA group (N = 89) and the control group (N = 89). Abbreviation: OSA—obstructive sleep apnea. Data are plotted as mean ± standard deviation. * Student’s t-test.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Urotensin II correlation with (A) SBP and (B) DBP indices in the whole study sample (N = 178). Abbreviations: OSA—obstructive sleep apnea; SBP—systolic blood pressure; DBP—diastolic blood pressure. * Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Urotensin II correlation with (A) ODI and (B) AHI indices in the OSA group (N = 89). Abbreviations: OSA—obstructive sleep apnea; AHI—apnea/hypopnea index; ODI—oxygen desaturation index. * Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
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