Is there a correlation between testosterone levels and the severity of the disease in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disease that can decrease quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the severity of the disease in patients with OSA.

Material And Methods: Severity of OSA was quantified with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) which was defined as the total number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep. Thirty-six male patients with mild-to-severe stable OSA and thirty age-matched subjects without OSA were included in this study. Erectile function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5. The association between severity of OSA and selected comorbidities was evaluated and compared with findings reported in the literature.

Results: Mean serum testosterone levels of OSA and control patients were 462.8 +/- 160.3 ng/dL and 486.9 +/- 163.2 ng/dL, respectively (p > 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between serum testosterone levels and AHI in patients with OSA (r = - 0,502, p < 0.01). Mean IIEF scores of OSA and control patients were 17.5 +/- 5.9 and 17.4 +/- 4.7, respectively (p > 0.05). Body mass index (BMI) of the OSA patients and control group were as 30.1 +/- 0.8 and 26.9 +/- 0.4, respectively (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Serum testosterone levels were negatively correlated with BMI and the severity of OSA. Measuring testosterone level may be an additional helpful indicator in diagnosis of severity and in follow-up of OSA.