Name: YTALO GONÇALVES BORGES
Publication date: 06/06/2019
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| SONIA ALVES GOUVEA | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FABIANA VASCONCELOS CAMPOS | External Examiner * |
| SONIA ALVES GOUVEA | Advisor * |
| VALERIO GARRONE BARAUNA | Internal Examiner * |
Summary: Previous studies have shown that the levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory and cell-free DNA markers are increased in individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The effects of medium to long-term CPAP therapy and physical activity in decreasing these levels have been somewhat explored. Here we propose to evaluate the effects of short-term CPAP therapy and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in moderate to severe OSA patients. Methods: 39 Recruited patients, randomly divided into CPAP (n=18) (with and without humidifier) and exercise groups (n=21), were all submitted to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Pittsburgh questionnaire. Blood samples were taken and biomarkers for lipid and protein oxidation, as well as pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and cell-free DNA were quantified, before and after 8 weeks of either CPAP therapy or moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Results: After 8 weeks of either CPAP therapy or exercise no significant differences were observed in the levels of cell-free DNA, oxidative stress and inflammation markers, except for an increase in AOPP and IL-17A levels in individuals who went through CPAP, which were higher when the CPAP device was used without the humidifier. We have also observed that the 8-week interventions were mostly unable to improve sleep quality and sleepiness indexes. Conclusions: Our main conclusion is that short-term treatment for OSA, be it CPAP therapy or moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, is not sufficient to significantly alter either the oxidative stress and inflammatory profiles or the cell-free DNA levels of moderate to severe OSA patients, affecting sleep quality parameters only in a modest way.
