Changes of circulating biomarkers of inflammation and glycolipid metabolism by CPAP in OSA patients: a meta-analysis of time-dependent profiles.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line therapy for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Specifying timing of CPAP benefits on OSA-related biomarkers will help to assess the effectiveness of CPAP and to optimize the treatment strategies.

Purpose: To explore the time-dependent changes of circulating biomarkers to CPAP treatment in patients with OSA, including inflammatory biomarkers [C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and glycolipid metabolic biomarkers [fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG)].

Methods: Searches of PubMed and Embase database were completed. Two independent reviewers extracted data from 68 included studies. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effect (or fixed-effect) model and standardized mean difference (SMD) model. The timing profiles of circulating biomarkers changes of inflammation and glycolipid metabolism were analyzed based on different CPAP duration, that is, short-term (<3 months), mid-term (3-6 months), and long-term (⩾6 months).

Results: Those first improved by short-term treatment include CRP [SMD: 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-1.31;  = 0.014], TNF-α [SMD: 0.48 (95% CI: 0.10-0.86;  = 0.014)], FBG [SMD: 0.32 (95% CI: 0.07-0.57;  = 0.011)], and LDL [SMD: 0.40 (95% CI: 0.18-0.62;  = 0.000)]. Those first improved by the mid-term or long-term treatment include HDL [SMD: -0.20 (95% CI: -0.36 to -0.03;  = 0.018)] and TC [SMD: 0.20 (95% CI: 0.05-0.34;  = 0.007)]. There were insignificant changes for TG and FINS after short or long CPAP.

Conclusion: Our results imply that changes of circulating biomarkers for patients with OSA under CPAP treatment have a time-dependent profile.