Hong SN et al. – This retrospective cohort study evaluated the association between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and blood coagulability in patients with OSA. The patients with moderate–to–severe OSA showed increased blood coagulability markers compared with the healthy individuals.

Methods

• In total, 146 patients with OSA were enrolled from a tertiary care university hospital between January 1, 2009, and July 31, 2015.
• Based on the severity of OSA (control, mild, moderate, and severe), the patients were divided into 4 groups.

Results

• A significant correlation was found between the apnea–hypopnea index and the prothrombin time (PT) seconds (Spearman r coefficient, -0.30) and PT international normalized ratio (INR) (Spearman r coefficient, -0.30).
• Significant differences in PT seconds were found while comparing the control group (mean, 11.26[0.78] seconds) with the moderate OSA group (10.74[0.62] seconds) and the severe OSA group (10.67[0.77] seconds).
• Significant differences in PT INR were observed while comparing the control group (1.00[0.07]) with the moderate OSA group (0.95[0.05]) and the severe OSA group (0.94[0.07]).
• No significant difference was found between the control and mild OSA groups in PT seconds.