Serum asprosin levels in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: relationship with disease severity and adipose tissue distribution.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disease with systemic effects associated with inflammation and metabolic disorders. In recent years, asprosin, an adipokine secreted from adipose tissue and involved in energy balance and insulin resistance, has attracted attention in relation to metabolic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate whether asprosin is a potential biomarker by examining the relationship between serum asprosin levels and disease severity and body fat tissue distribution in OSAS patients.
This prospective, single-center, cross-sectional observational study was conducted between January 2024 and January 2025 at Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine Sleep Laboratory. Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of OSAS and undergoing polysomnography (PSG) were included in the study. Participants were grouped according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). In order to minimize potential confounding factors, individuals with diabetes, malignancy, chronic organ diseases, or recent use of drugs or antioxidant supplements affecting metabolism were excluded. Serum asprosin levels were measured using the ELISA. Skinfold thickness measurements evaluated subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 25.0 software.
The overall mean age of the participants was 47.2 ± 12.6 years, and 58.7% were male (n = 71). Serum asprosin levels were significantly higher in OSAS patients than in the control group (p < 0.001). As the disease severity increased, serum asprosin levels also increased. In addition, a positive correlation was found between serum asprosin levels and AHI, neck circumference, subscapular, abdominal, and thigh skinfolds (R = 0.896, 0.726, 0.582, 0.677, 0.671; p < 0.001, respectively). As a result of ROC analysis, a cut-off value of 22.49 ng/mL was determined for serum asprosin level in distinguishing the severe OSAS group. At this threshold value, sensitivity was calculated as 82%, specificity as 97%, and area under the curve (AUC) as 0.886.
This study observed that serum asprosin levels were higher in OSAS patients than in the control group and increased with disease severity. In addition, asprosin levels were determined to be related to body fat tissue distribution. These findings suggest that asprosin can be used as a potential biomarker in diagnosing OSAS and assessing disease severity.
This prospective, single-center, cross-sectional observational study was conducted between January 2024 and January 2025 at Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine Sleep Laboratory. Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of OSAS and undergoing polysomnography (PSG) were included in the study. Participants were grouped according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). In order to minimize potential confounding factors, individuals with diabetes, malignancy, chronic organ diseases, or recent use of drugs or antioxidant supplements affecting metabolism were excluded. Serum asprosin levels were measured using the ELISA. Skinfold thickness measurements evaluated subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 25.0 software.
The overall mean age of the participants was 47.2 ± 12.6 years, and 58.7% were male (n = 71). Serum asprosin levels were significantly higher in OSAS patients than in the control group (p < 0.001). As the disease severity increased, serum asprosin levels also increased. In addition, a positive correlation was found between serum asprosin levels and AHI, neck circumference, subscapular, abdominal, and thigh skinfolds (R = 0.896, 0.726, 0.582, 0.677, 0.671; p < 0.001, respectively). As a result of ROC analysis, a cut-off value of 22.49 ng/mL was determined for serum asprosin level in distinguishing the severe OSAS group. At this threshold value, sensitivity was calculated as 82%, specificity as 97%, and area under the curve (AUC) as 0.886.
This study observed that serum asprosin levels were higher in OSAS patients than in the control group and increased with disease severity. In addition, asprosin levels were determined to be related to body fat tissue distribution. These findings suggest that asprosin can be used as a potential biomarker in diagnosing OSAS and assessing disease severity.
Authors
Aksakal Aksakal, Kerget Kerget, Özkan Özkan, Laloğlu Laloğlu, Araz Araz, Akgün Akgün
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