The effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on serum caspase-3 level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Increased apoptosis due to intermittent hypoxemia may be an important clinical entity in OSA. In this study, we aimed to evaluate caspase-3 enzyme level, which is an indirect marker of increased apoptosis in patients with OSA and to evaluate the effect of OSA treatment with CPAP on caspase-3 enzyme level Caspase-3 was measured in routine blood samples obtained on the morning of polysomnography performed at night. Caspase-3 levels of the patients were checked again after CPAP treatment. A total of 141 patients, 39 females and 102 males were included in the study. According to PSG results, OSA was detected in 95.7% of the cases. Mild OSA was 35, moderate OSA 39 and severe OSA 61 cases. Median caspase-3 enzyme levels were similar in men and women in the study group. There was no statistically significant difference in hemogram parameters and caspase-3 enzyme levels between the groups divided according to the presence and severity of OSA. Caspase-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness and significantly lower in patients with cardiovascular disease. It was determined that caspase-3 enzyme level did not change significantly after 3 months of CPAP treatment in OSA compared to pretreatment. It was found that the control caspase-3 level decreased statistically significantly as the percentage of daily use of CPAP therapy increased (r=-0.397, p=0.030) The results of this study did not reveal a relationship between the severity of OSA and caspase-3 levels. Blood caspase-3 levels decreased as treatment compliance increased, suggesting that CPAP treatment may correct increased apoptosis in OSA.