Relationship Between Electrical Risk Score and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Aim: The most common type of sleep disordered breathing in industrial societies is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Electrical Risk Score (ERS) comprises 6 distinct electrocardiographic parameters, each representing aspects of the heart’s electrical activity and structural damage. Our study aimed to investigate the association between the ERS and the severity of OSA in patients diagnosed with OSA. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 255 patients diagnosed with OSA after polysomnography. The patients were then divided into three groups based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The groups were analyzed based on clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiogram (ECG) characteristics. Results: When we compared the groups, OSA was significantly associated with hypertension (HT) (p <0.001) and a higher body mass index (BMI) (p=0.003). Group 3 showed a statistically higher ERS value (p <0.001), higher heart rate (p <0.001), increased electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) rates (p <0.001), a delayed QRS transition zone (p <0.001), prolonged QTc (p <0.001), a larger QRS-T angle (p=0.005), and a longer Tpeak- Tend interval (p <0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that ERS is linked to OSA severity and acts as an independent predictor of severe OSA.

Keywords

• obstructive sleep apnea OSA
• electrical risk score ERS
• sleep disorders

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