Assessment of the relationship between polysomnography parameters and plasma malondialdehyde levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: The relationship of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) with major parameters of PSG was investigated to find out if there was a correlation between these variables.

Methods: Polysomnograms were done on a total of 37 adults who do not have a history of any systemic illness, smoking, and supplement use. Plasma MDA measurements and their relationship with PSG parameters were analyzed.

Results: The mean MDA concentrations in patients with lower AHI values were also lower than those in the patients with higher AHI (p < 0.001). Higher predominance of apnea in patients with similar AHI values, longer mean apnea durations, O saturation dips to < 90%, and higher ODI values predicted higher plasma MDA concentrations.

Conclusions: Higher oxidative stress measurements predicted more severe clinical picture. These findings show that oxidative stress measurement with MDA may provide a simple tool to screen patients for OSA and help select them for PSG study appropriately, if indicated.