INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum copeptin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before and after the positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment.
METHODS: A total of 16 patients (14 males, 2 females; median age 48 years; range, 38 to 60 years) with severe sleep apnea based on the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) >30 and 20 healthy controls (10 males, 10 females; median age 35.5 years; range, 22 to 47 years) were included in this study between October 2014 and December 2015. Full-night polysomnography was applied to each patient. Serum copeptin levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in both groups. Serum copeptin level measurement was repeated in the patient group after one year of PAP treatment.
RESULTS: After one year of PAP treatment, serum copeptin levels of the patients with OSA decreased, although there was no statistically significant difference before and after treatment.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Increased serum copeptin concentration may reflect a response to moderate stress in many diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Based on our study results, there was no significant difference between the severe OSA group and healthy volunteers and before and after treatment among the patients with severe OSA.