Obstructive sleep apnoea: Potential role of tumour necrosis factor alpha as a circulating biomarker

Authors

  • Ambreen Qamar Department of Physiology, Dr, Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Zeba Haque Department of Biochemistry, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Sitwat Zehra Dr. A.Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology, and Engineering, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Mirza Saifullah Baig Department of Drug Resistant T.B, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.3239

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship of tumour necrosis factor-alpha with obstructive sleep apnoea and its severity in Pakistani population.

Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Sleep Laboratory of Dow University Hospital, Karachi, from December, 2018, to March, 2020, and comprised patients of either gender having symptoms of snoring, witnessed apnoea or daytime sleepiness. They were divided into four groups on the basis of obstructive sleep apnoea status. Those without obstructive sleep apnoea were in Group A, mild status in Group B, moderate in Group C and severe obstructive sleep apnoea in Group D. Polysomnography was done to confirm obstructive sleep apnoea status and to categorise the subjects using apnoea-hypopnea index, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess their tumour necrosis factor alpha levels.. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

Results: Of the 150 subjects, 94(63%) were males. The overall mean age was 49.68±12.14 years. There were 50(33.33%) subjects in Group A, 19(12.66%) Group B, 23(15.33%) Group C and 58(38.66%) in Group D. Mean tumour necrosis factor-alpha level was 3.88±1.65pg/mL in Group A, 9.97±4.33pg/mL in Group B, 12.65±4.46pg/mL in Group C and 12.83±4.33pg/mL in Group D. Mean tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels had significant association with the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Higher levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha were found to be associated with obstructive sleep apnoea, and can be considered a potential biomarker for early diagnosis.

Key Words: Sleep, Obstructive sleep apnoea, Biomarker, TNF-alpha, Inflammation, Sleep-related breathing disorder.

Additional Files

Published

2022-02-19

How to Cite

Qamar, A., Haque, Z., Zehra, S., & Baig, M. S. (2022). Obstructive sleep apnoea: Potential role of tumour necrosis factor alpha as a circulating biomarker. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.3239

Issue

Section

Original Article