Linz D, Loffler KA, Sanders P, et al. - By performing post-hoc analyses of the Sleep Apnea CV Endpoints (SAVE) trial, researchers investigated whether new nocturnal oxygen saturation metrics hold prognostic worth in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and high cardiovascular (CV) event risk. The participants were 2,687 in total. The following metrics were included: oxygen desaturation index, time < 90% oxygen saturation (SpO₂), average SpO₂ for the whole recording (mean SpO₂); average SpO₂ during desaturation events (desaturation SpO₂); average baseline SpO₂ interpolated across episodic desaturation events (baseline SpO₂); episodic desaturation event duration and desaturation/resaturation-time ratio; mean as well as standard deviation of pulse rate. Findings revealed no correlation of AHI and ODI with CV outcomes. In contrast, the pattern of oxygen desaturation was shown to be related to heart failure and myocardial infarction. However, concomitant risk factors continued to be the main determinants for secondary CV events and therefore worthy of the most intensive management.