Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet Distribution Width in Patients with Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a common disorder that can cause hypercoagulation. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are associated with hypercoagulability. This study aimed to investigate whether MPV and PDW values change in patients with OSA who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.
Methods: A total of 43 adult patients with OSA who were treated with CPAP were included in this retrospective study. Patients who underwent CPAP treatment for <5 days/week and <4 h/day were excluded. Blood parameters, including MPV and PDW, were recorded before CPAP treatment and at the third month of CPAP treatment. All patients underwent polysomnographic evaluation with full night polysomnography and in the second night CPAP titration was performed together with full night polysomnography and MPV and PDW values were statistically compared before and after CPAP treatment.
Results: Apnea hypopnea index was significantly reduced, whereas oxygen saturation was significantly increased at CPAP titration night (p<0.001). The third month of CPAP treatment resulted in significantly low PDW (p=0.004) values, but MPV values did not change.
Conclusion: PDW value at the third month of CPAP treatment revealed a significant improvement compared with the values before treatment; moreover, no change was observed in MPV values. It was concluded that in patients with OSA who were treated with CPAP, activation of platelets may result in recovery.