Changes in the telomeres length in patients with obstructive sleep apnea after continuous positive airway pressure therapy: a pilot study

Madaeva IM, Kurashova NA, Ukhinov EB, et al. Changes in the telomeres length in patients with obstructive sleep apnea after continuous positive airway pressure therapy: a pilot study. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2022;122(5‑2):52‑57. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202212205252

Подписка 2026 Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова. Спецвыпуски (S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry (special issues))

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

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Abstract:

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a relative telomere length in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before and after a 6-month course of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seventy-five men participated in the study, including 50 men with OSA (the main group 1) and 25 men without OSA (the control group). The average age in the total group was 53.4±3.6 years. Thirty-five men completed the study (the main group 2). According to the design, night polysomnography (PSG) was performed for all the subjects, blood sampling to assess the length of telomeres was carried out in the morning according to the standard method. The values of the relative telomere length were obtained using the difference between the values of the threshold cycles for telomeric DNA and the reference gene albumin (∆CCt). After clarifying the diagnosis, CPAP was applied for 6 months.

RESULTS

Statistically significant indicators of PSG were revealed: a decrease in NREM 3 in patients with OSA compared to controls (89.3±15.8 versus 150±23.4 minutes), an increase in NREM1-2 in OSA (296.2±31.1 and 170.1±24.5, respectively), REM was 84.6±15.4 in the main group and 118.5±19.5 in the control group. CPAP therapy conducted for 6 months (at least 4—5 nights a week, lasting at least 5—6 hours of night sleep) demonstrated a significant improvement in the qualitative and quantitative parameters of sleep. In patients of the main group 1, there is a shortening of the telomere length compared with the control group (p<0.001). With the elimination of hypoxia and improvement of the structure of sleep after CPAP, there was an increase in the telomere lengths in the main group 1 from 0.28 [0.24—0.29] to 0.32 [0.30—0.34] in the main group 2 (p=0.03). The telomers length in the control group was 0.53 [0.50—0.55].

CONCLUSION

Intermittent hypoxia and fragmentation of sleep in OSA leads to shortening of telomeres. CPAP, by eliminating the pathophysiological triggers of OSA, contributes to an increase in telomeres lengths and can slow down the premature aging in OSA.

Keywords:

obstructive apnea

sleep

intermittent hypoxia

telomeres length

CPAP

Authors:

Madaeva I.M.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

ORCID: 0000-0003-3423-7260

Kurashova N.A.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

ORCID: 0000-0001-8591-8619

Ukhinov E.B.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

Berdina O.N.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

ORCID: 0000-0003-0930-6543

Semenova N.V.

Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

ORCID: 0000-0002-2798-8800

Madaev V.V.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

ORCID: 0000-0002-9847-2529

Kolesnikova L.I.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

ORCID: 0000-0003-3354-2992

Kolesnikov S.I.

Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems

ORCID: 0000-0003-2124-6328

Received:

25.03.2022

Accepted:

19.03.2022

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