Abstract: Objective To explore the lipid metabolism disorder and plaque development of carotid artery in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS). Methods A total of 99 OSAHS patients diagnosed by polysomnogram(PSG)were divided into the mild-moderate group(n=10), the severe group(n=34),and the profound group(n=55)according to the apnea-hypopnea index(AHI), and 48 healthy people severed as controls. Peripheral blood was collected from every individual after fasting. Blood lipid indexes including total cholesterol(TC), plasma triglycerides(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were measured. All patients in the OSAHS group underwent color Doppler ultrasonography of cervical artery. The intima-media thickness(IMT)and carotid plaques were recorded. Results Compared with the control group, BMI in different severity OSAHS groups were higher(P<0.05), the level of HDL-C was lower(P<0.01), the level of TG in severe and profound OSASH groups was higher(P<0.05), but the levels of TC and LDL-C had no significant differences(P>0.05). In the OSAHS groups, the IMT was positively correlated with AHI(P<0.05), but negatively correlated with mean SpO₂(P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between AHI and minimum SpO₂(P>0.05). There were significant differences in the incidence rate of carotid artery plaque among profound and other two OSAHS groups(P<0.05). Conclusion Abnormity of blood lipid metabolism existed in OSAHS patients, meanwhile, the incidence of carotid artery plaque of profound OSAHS patients increased more significantly.

Key words: Carotid artery plaque, Sleep apnea-hypopneasyndrome, obstructive, Lipid metabolism