Multidisciplinary Approach to Evaluation of Autonomic Function Test in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) Patients in a Newly Established Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, interrupting (apnea) or reducing (hypopnea) the flow of air, followed by transient awakening that leads to the restoration of upper airway permeability. The present study was conducted for assessing Autonomic Function Test in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) Patients in a Newly Established Tertiary Care Centre.Materials & Methods: A total of 50 patients with presence of OSAS and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Complete demographic and clinical details of all the subjects were obtained. Autonomic function test was carried out in all the patients. All the results were recorded in Microsoft excel sheet and were analyzed by SPSS software. Student t test and Mann Whitney U test were used for evaluation of level of significance. Results: Heart rate response to standing (30:15 ratio) was 1.23 among patients of the OSAS group and 1.05 among the patients of the control group. Heart rate response to deep breathing (E:I ratio) was 1.14 among patients of the OSAS group and 1.01 among the patients of the control group. Valsalva maneuver (ratio) was 1.29 among patients of the OSAS group and 1.15 among the patients of the control group. Isometric hand-group exercise test was 8.12 among patients of the OSAS group and 10.08 among the patients of the control group. Cold pressor test results showed 7.26 value in OSAS group and 9.28 value in the control group. Significant results were obtained while comparing the autonomic function test among subjects of the study group and the control group.Conclusion: There is significant reduction in the values of Autonomic Function Test in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) Patients.