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Diurnal PaCO2 tension in obese women: relationship with sleep disordered breathing

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 1453–1458 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Several obese subjects show a wide array of respiratory disturbances during sleep due to an increased upper-airway resistance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate diurnal PaCO2 tension in nonsmoking obese women and the possible relationship of this parameter with the presence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of PaCO2 tension in obese women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 91 nonsmoking obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2, aged 42.8±15.7 y) were recruited and evaluated for general and anthropometric parameters, respiratory function, sleep-related symptoms, and sleep disorders of breathing.

RESULTS: A total of 10 subjects (10.9%) had diurnal hypercapnia (PaCO2≥43 mmHg). Age, BMI, neck circumference, apnoea/hypopnoea index, and nocturnal desaturation (expressed as TST SaO 2 < 90 % ; TST SaO 2 < 90 % =percentage of total sleep time with oxyhaemoglobin saturation <90%) were significantly higher in obese patients with diurnal hypercapnia, compared to normocapnic women. Moreover, hypercapnic patients had reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 s compared to normocapnic individuals. By using multiple regression analysis, the best fitting model (r=0.62, P<0.001) for predicting diurnal PaCO2 tension in the study population showed that 24.23% of the variance may be explained by TST SaO 2 < 90 % , according to the equation: PaCO2=0.09 age+0.07 TST SaO 2 < 90 % +33.00.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that severity of SDB is the most important factor in determining diurnal PaCO2 tension in apparently healthy nonsmoking obese women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Methodology and Medical-Surgical Technologies, Respiratory Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    O Resta, G E Carpagnano & A Stefàno

  2. Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

    M P Foschino Barbaro

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    M Carbonara

  4. Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    N Pannacciulli & G De Pergola

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  1. O Resta
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  2. M P Foschino Barbaro
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  7. G De Pergola
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Correspondence to G De Pergola.

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Resta, O., Foschino Barbaro, M., Carpagnano, G. et al. Diurnal PaCO2 tension in obese women: relationship with sleep disordered breathing. Int J Obes 27, 1453–1458 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802429

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