Sleep apnoea and endothelial dysfunction: an individual patient data meta-analysis

Summary We performed an individual patient data meta-analysis to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity and the reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), a validated measurement of endothelial function, and a strong predictor of late cardiovascular (CV) events. Patients from 12 studies underwent PAT and overnight polysomnography or respiratory polygraphy for suspected OSA. Endothelial dysfunction was defined by a log-transformed RHI 20 minutes with oxygen saturation