Table 2.

Serum MMP-9 level is correlated with the severity of OSAS and hypertension.

	Cases (n)	MMP-9 level (ng/mL)	P value
OSAS severity
Mild	16	120.6 ± 24.7	Reference
Moderate	12	144.3 ± 25.2	0.02∗
Severe	19	165.6 ± 25.2	<0.001∗
Hypertension
Absent	35	137.3 ± 27.8	Reference
Present	12	166.7 ± 29.2	<0.001∗

Data are mean ± SD; ^∗P < 0.05 versus reference group (Student's t-test).