Abstract
Background
Clinical detection of inflammatory markers is useful to assess the degree of nocturnal hypoxia and predict the presence of complications in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients. Nowadays, some researchers proposed that hematological parameters could be substituted for novel disease-specific biochemical markers (such as C-reactive protein) because they were comparatively cheap, simple and practical. But there was a contradiction whether the hematological parameters were positively correlated with the OSAS severity.
Methods
Medical databases were searched included PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trial, Embase and Google Scholar (up to March 29, 2018). We used weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from random-effects model.
Results
Seventeen studies were included in this meta-analysis and results were presented by different hematological parameters. Pooled analysis showed that OSAS was associated with a high level of WBC (white blood cell, 11 studies, 2,206 subjects, WMD: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.85; P<0.0001), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, 5 studies, 1416 subjects, WMD: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.80; P=0.007), MPV (mean platelet volume, 8 studies, 1,854 subjects, WMD: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.98; P=0.0004), PDW (platelet distribution width, 6 studies, 1,911 subjects, WMD: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.06; P<0.00001), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, 3 studies, 998 subjects, WMD: 21.76; 95% CI: 8.54 to 34.99; P=0.001), RDW (red cell distribution width, 5 studies, 1,701 subjects, WMD: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.51; P=0.002) and HCT (hematocrit, 3 studies, 662 subjects, WMD: 1.58; 95% CI: 0.52 to 2.64; P=0.003). But OSAS was associated with a low level of LYM (lymphocyte, 5 studies, 1,285 subjects, WMD: −0.27; 95% CI: −0.49 to −0.06; P=0.01). There was a gradual rising trend from mild OSAS to severe OSAS existed in all subgroups.
Conclusions
Hematological indices are comparatively Simple, Inexpensive and Practical Severity Markers of OSAS including WBC, LYM, NLR, MPV, PDW, PLR, RDW and HCT.
Keywords: Hematological indices, meta-analysis, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), severity, biomarker
Introduction
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disease with a prevalence of moderate to severe sleep apnea in 6% to 13% of the adults population which affecting more than 20 million Americans (1). It is characterized by recurrent obstruction of partial or total upper airway and subsequent paroxysmal nocturnal hypoxia which leads to intermittent arousals from sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness and so on (2).
Although the etiologies and pathophysiological mechanisms are still not thoroughly understood, OSAS can lead to some complications such as cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), cancer and diabetes (3). And CVD occupies a large part in complications (4-6). Several evidences proposed that the predisposition to CVD of OSAS patients may be associated with endothelial dysfunction, excessive oxidative stress, increased systemic inflammation and sympathetic excitation (7-11).
The chronic systematic inflammation of OSAS may play an important role in the progression of CVD (12). Recent studies suggest that both WBC and NLR are good indicators of inflammation (13-17). Neutrophils (NEU) mainly mediate innate immune response by secreting mediators while LYM mediate adaptive immune response by regulating inflammation (18). Besides, some studies reported platelet was activated and aggregated in patients with OSAS, which was also relevant in inflammation (19,20). MPV and PDW are both useful markers of platelet activity. Recently, studies introduce PLR as a novel inflammatory marker to predict the adverse outcomes of CVD (14-17,21). Third, in view of hypoxemic states, HCT was elevated in OSAS patients that might be called secondary erythrocytosis (22). What’s more, red cell distribution width (RDW), which assessed the variability of erythrocyte, was also reported to be increased in relation to inflammation in OSAS (23).
Clinical detection of inflammatory markers is useful to assess the degree of nocturnal hypoxia and predict the presence of complications in OSAS patients. Nowadays, clinical scientists usually use the novel disease-specific biochemical markers to measure the overall inflammatory status of human body. However, there is an obvious drawback that such markers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, are always expensive and time-consuming, especially in developing countries. Besides, blood routine examination is used more frequently than disease-specific biochemical markers in primary hospital. Hence, we proposed the hematological parameters mentioned above could be alternative markers to evaluate the inflammation in OSAS population because they were comparatively cheap, readily-measurable, easy and practical laboratory markers.
Nevertheless, there was a contradiction whether the hematological parameters were positively correlated with the OSAS severity. Therefore, we conducted the meta-analysis to solve this problem and assessed the values of hematological indices to be Severity Markers of OSAS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis in this academic field.
Methods
Our study was performed according to The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines (24).
Data sources and search strategy
Medical databases were searched included PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trial, Embase and Google Scholar. Each database was searched from inception through March 29, 2018. The following terms were used in the search: (“hematology” or “white blood cell count” or “neutrophil count” or “lymphocyte count” or “neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio” or “NLR” or “platelet count” or “platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio” or “PLR” or “mean platelet volume” or “MPV” or “platelet distribution width” or “PDW” or “red cell count” or “Hematocrit” or “HCT” or “red cell distribution width” or “RDW”) and (“obstructive sleep apnea syndrome” or “OSAS”). Meanwhile, we scanned the reference list of included studies and relevant scientific meetings.
Selection criteria
Inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis: (I) patients: adults who had OSAS and were categorized into three OSAS severity groups as mild, moderate and severe according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values of 5–14, 15–29 and more than 30, respectively (25); (II) outcomes: clinical hematological parameters including white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, erythrocyte, hematocrit and RDW; (III) study language: only English language; (IV) data: all the data was based on means and standard deviations or medians and ranges.
Exclusion criteria: studies didn’t have available data and control group.
Quality assessment
Two reviewers (M Wu and L Zhou) used the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool (EPHPP) (26) to assess the methodological quality of included studies in this review. We graded key component assessments as strong, moderate, or weak: Selection bias, Study design, Data collection methods and Confounders. From the component-specific assessments, we derived an overall quality assessment according to each component assessment of no weak rating, one weak rating and two or more weak ratings. Any discrepancies were resolved by discussion or a third reviewer.
Data extraction
Two authors (M Wu and L Zhou) independently evaluated all the studies that were retrieved from the databases and bibliography and determined the final included studies according to inclusion criteria described above. Any disagreements were resolved via consensus or third reviewer when necessary. For each included study, we extracted data using two data extraction forms.
Statistical analysis
We used weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the meta-analysis to analyze the association between hematological parameters and OSAS severity. The I2 statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity across the studies. Heterogeneity was defined as low, moderate and high heterogeneity according to I2 statistic values of 25%, 50% and 75%. When heterogeneity was found, we performed a sensitivity analysis to determine which studies contributed most significantly to the heterogeneity. The respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was combined data with AHI. If a study only reported median (Q25–Q75), then the data was calculates as an estimate of mean and SD according to the Cochrane Handbook (27). The Egger’s test and Begg’s test were used to assess publication bias. All analyses were performed with Review Manager (Version 5.3, The Cochrane Collaboration) and Stata (Version SE12.0, Stata Corporation, USA). A P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results
Studies identification and characteristic
A total of 2,479 studies were identified from searching the electronic database. After screening, 35 studies were full-text reviewed for eligibility. Finally 17 studies (19,20,22,23,28-40) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The detailed steps of the study identification process are shown in Figure 1. The characteristic of each study were summarized in Table 1 and Table S1. Table 1 mainly included general characteristics: author, year, country, outcomes, characteristic of OSAS patients and quality assessment. Table S1 presented the demographic data: total sample size of each eligible study, detailed demographic data of each severity group (AHI, sample size, age, BMI and male proportion). The methodological quality was assessed according to the EPHPP tool (Table S2).
Figure 1.
Flow diagram.
Table 1. General characteristics of included studies.
| Author, year* | Study period | Country | Outcomes | Characteristics of OSAS patients | Quality assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSAS subjects with/without CVD | |||||
| Sunnetcioglu, 2018 | 201301–201510 | Turkey | HGB, RDW | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension, smoking and CVD | Strong |
| Song, 2016 | 201001–201412 | Korea | WBC, NEU, LYM, RBC, HGB, HCT, RDW, PLT, PLR, PDW | OSAS w/wo diabetes, smoking, primary hypertension, and hyperlipidemia | Strong |
| Uygur, 2016 | 201209–201403 | Turkey | WBC, NEU, LYM, NLR, HGB, RDW, PLT, PDW, MPV | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD and hyperlipidemia | Strong |
| Koseoglu, 2015 | NA | Turkey | PLT, LYM, PLR, MPV, PDW, RDW | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD and smoking | Strong |
| Sokucu, 2014 | 201201–201207 | Turkey | WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, PLT, MPV, PDW | OSAS w/wo smoking and hypertension but wo CVD and diabetes | Strong |
| Kanbay, 2013 | 200501–201010 | Turkey | MPV, HGB, WBC, PLT | OSAS w/wo CVD | Strong |
| Kurt, 2013 | 201103–201207 | Turkey | WBC, RDW, HGB, MPV, PDW, PLT | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD, hyperlipidemia and smoking | Strong |
| Ozsu, 2012 | NA | Turkey | HGB | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD and smoking | Strong |
| Varol, 2011 | 200809–200909 | Turkey | HGB, WBC, PLT, MPV | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension and smoking | Strong |
| Varol, 2010 | NA | Turkey | HGB, WBC, PLT, MPV | OSAS w/wo diabetes, hypertension and smoking | Strong |
| OSAS subjects without CVD | |||||
| Altintas, 2015 | 201301–201404 | Turkey | NLR | OSAS wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD and smoking | Strong |
| Korkmaz, 2015 | 201211–201312 | Turkey | WBC, NEU, LYM, NLR, LYM | OSAS wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD and hyperlipidemia | Strong |
| Koseoglu, 2015 | 201005–201307 | Turkey | PLR, NLR | OSAS wo CVD | Strong |
| Yenigun, 2015 | NA | Turkey | NLR, NEU, LYM, WBC | OSAS wo CVD. | Strong |
| Karakas, 2013 | 200903–201010 | Turkey | HGB, PLT, MPV | OSAS wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD, hyperlipidemia and smoking | Strong |
| Nena, 2012 | NA | Greece | MPV, PDW | OSAS wo diabetes and smoking | Strong |
| Choi, 2006 | NA | California | HGB, HCT, WBC | OSAS wo diabetes, hypertension, CVD and smoking | Strong |
*, all studies were retrospective case series. WBC, white blood cell; LYM, lymphocyte; NEU, neutrophil; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; RBC, red blood cell; PLT, platelet; PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; HGB, hemoglobin; HCT, hematocrit; RDW, red cell distribution width; MPV, mean platelet volume; PDW, platelet distribution width; CVD, cardiovascular disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; w/o, without; w/wo, with and without.
Table S1. Demographic data of eligible studies.
| Author | Year | Total size | Group* | AHI | Size | Age | BMI (kg/m2) | Male (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnetcioglu | 2018 | 600 | Control | 2.6±1.4 | 197 | 40±11.5 | 28.3±4.7 | 152 (77.1) |
| Mild OSAS | 9.2±3.1 | 149 | 44.5±11.3 | 30.1±5.2 | 113 (75.8) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 21.5±4 | 98 | 48.7±10.5 | 32±6.8 | 69 (70.4) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 57.6±24.1 | 156 | 48.5±12 | 33±7.1 | 122 (78.2) | |||
| Song | 2016 | 290 | Control | NA | 61 | 44±15.4 | 24.2±4.43 | 33 (54.1) |
| Mild OSAS | NA | 67 | 48.2±13.4 | 24.7±3.2 | 39 (58.2) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | NA | 61 | 49.1±11.8 | 26.4±3.58 | 41 (67.2) | |||
| Severe OSAS | NA | 101 | 51.4±12.5 | 26.9±3.41 | 80 (79.2) | |||
| Uygur | 2016 | 289 | Control | 2.2±1.3 | 118 | 50.3±11.7 | 29.4±7.8 | 61 (57.0) |
| Mild OSAS | 11.3±2.2 | 57 | 53.7±10.8 | 30.8±5.7 | 36 (21.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 23.7±3.6 | 53 | 51.8±12.1 | 31.6±8.1 | 30 (23.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 56.1±18.7 | 61 | 54.5±12.7 | 32.1±7.1 | 39 (22.0) | |||
| Altintas | 2015 | 561 | Control | NA | 80 | 47.3±10.8 | 32.5±7.8 | 56 (70.0) |
| Mild OSAS | 9.83±2.66 | 163 | 48.9±12.8 | 32.4±7.3 | 90 (73.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 21.44±4.46 | 158 | 48.3±10.8 | 32.6±8.4 | 111 (70.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 62.8±25.01 | 160 | 48.9±10.5 | 34.3±7.5 | 110 (69.0) | |||
| Korkmaz | 2015 | 146 | Control | NA | 40 | 43.4±11.14 | 29.27 | 14 (35.0) |
| Mild OSAS | NA | 27 | 44.96±9.25 | 29.15 | 18 (67.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | NA | 37 | 47.24±9.12 | 31.97 | 21 (57.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | NA | 42 | 49.35±9.79 | 32.6 | 26 (62.0) | |||
| Koseoglu | 2015 | 424 | Control | 2.6±2.1 | 57 | 43.5±11.2 | 29±4.8 | 23 (40.0) |
| Mild OSAS | 10.6±7.2 | 93 | 51.1±8.6 | 30.2±4.8 | 58 (62.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 21.8±3.8 | 82 | 51.1±10.9 | 32.4±6.4 | 62 (76.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 58.5±24.1 | 192 | 51.6±10.6 | 35.3±7.2 | 139 (72.0) | |||
| Koseoglu | 2015 | 284 | Control | NA | 48 | 43.08±8.88 | 27.0±3.76 | 29 (60.4) |
| Mild OSAS | NA | 67 | 47.2±10.14 | 30.67±4.6 | 167 (70.7) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | NA | 61 | ||||||
| Severe OSAS | NA | 108 | ||||||
| Yenigun | 2015 | 136 | Control | NA | 38 | 48.08±8.82 | 30.5±6.16 | 20 (52.0) |
| Mild OSAS | NA | 34 | 46.75±8.06 | 33.9±6.79 | 24 (70.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | NA | 30 | 53.64±12.6 | 33.5±6.66 | 14 (46.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | NA | 34 | 52.9±12.21 | 36.1±6.63 | 18 (53.0) | |||
| Sokucu | 2014 | 200 | Control | 2.84±1.41 | 30 | 38.4±12.29 | 26.9±4.61 | 15 (50.0) |
| Mild OSAS | 9.58±2.91 | 38 | 43.5±12.15 | 29.1±4.51 | 30 (78.9) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 21.12±3.88 | 41 | 47.2±10.95 | 30.0±4.52 | 33 (80.5) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 54.1±18.81 | 91 | 45.6±10.15 | 31.7±4.53 | 76 (83.5) | |||
| Kanbay | 2013 | 205 | Control | NA | 35 | 51.2±12.6 | 29.2±8.4 | 22 (63.0) |
| Mild OSAS | NA | 20 | 55.6±11.6 | 31.4±5.2 | 13 (65.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | NA | 42 | 52.9±13.3 | 31.7±7.5 | 20 (47.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | NA | 108 | 55.5±11.9 | 32.4±6.1 | 74 (68.0) | |||
| Karakas | 2013 | 124 | Control | NA | 31 | 46.7±8.4 | 28.9±2.9 | NA |
| Mild OSAS | 10.3±3 | 30 | 46.1±8.2 | 28.4±3.1 | NA | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 21.5±3.5 | 32 | 48.3±7.6 | 28.7±2.7 | NA | |||
| Severe OSAS | 59.4±15.9 | 31 | 47.3±7.7 | 29.2±2.9 | NA | |||
| Kurt | 2013 | 98 | Control | NA | 20 | 46.3±13.1 | 29.4±4.9 | 11 (55.0) |
| Mild OSAS | NA | 15 | 51.7±8.9 | 28.4±3.3 | 11 (73.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | NA | 26 | 53.9±12.4 | 31.7±4.8 | 15 (58.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | NA | 37 | 58.1±10.9 | 33.2±5.7 | 25 (68.0) | |||
| Nena | 2012 | 610 | Control | NA | 148 | 53.4±12.5 | 35±7.2 | NA |
| Mild OSAS | 121 | |||||||
| Moderate OSAS | 85 | |||||||
| Severe OSAS | 256 | |||||||
| Ozsu | 2012 | 137 | Control | 2.5±1.4 | 25 | 50 [23–67] | 30 [25–41] | 7 (28.0) |
| Mild OSAS | 10.5±3.4 | 15 | 51 [21–77] | 32.4 [24–69] | 9 (60.0) | |||
| Moderate OSAS | 21.7±3.7 | 26 | 49 [21–76] | 27 [22–52] | 18(69.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 60.2±22 | 71 | 53 [30–73] | 32 [21–62] | 51 (72.0) | |||
| Varol | 2011 | 56 | Control | 2.8±1.6 | 25 | 49.6±8.5 | 30.9±2.9 | 14 (56.0) |
| Severe OSAS | 55.8±15.1 | 31 | 53.8±9.2 | 32.5±3.3 | 21 (67.0) | |||
| Varol | 2010 | 95 | Control | 2.6±1.4 | 24 | 45.6±13.9 | 28.2±5 | 14 (58.0) |
| Mild-moderate OSAS | 15.6±7.5 | 42 | 50.1±9.3 | 29±4.1 | 22 (52.0) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 56.5±22.4 | 29 | 49.6±10.2 | 31.5±4 | 21 (72.0) | |||
| Choi | 2006 | 263 | Control | 2.8±1.3 | 61 | 37.6±8.4 | 24.9±3.8 | 29 (37.7) |
| Mild-moderate OSAS | 15.7±7.3 | 91 | 44.1±8.9 | 28.5±5 | 62 (68.1) | |||
| Severe OSAS | 67.2±25.8 | 111 | 47.3±9.3 | 32±5.5 | 98 (88.3) |
Total was based on means and standard deviations, except that Ozsu was based on medians and ranges. *, according to the AHI, all eligible studies subjects were categorized into four groups: control subjects (AHI <5 events/hour), mild subjects (5 events/hour ≤ AHI ≤15 events/hour, moderate subjects (15 events/hour ≤ AHI ≤30 events/hour) and severe subjects (AHI e30 events/hour). AHI, apnea-hypopnea index; BMI, body mass index.
Table S2. Quality assessment of included studies using the EPHPP tool*.
| Author/year | Overall quality assessment | Quality assessment for study components | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selection bias | Study design | Data collection methods | Confounders | ||
| Sunnetcioglu 2018 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Song 2016 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Uygur 2016 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Altintas 2015 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate1 | Strong |
| Korkmaz 2015 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Koseoglu 2015 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Koseoglu 2015 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Yenigun 2015 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Sökücü 2014 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Kanbay 2013 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Karakas 2013 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Kurt 2013 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Nena 2012 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Ozsu 2012 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Varol2011 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Varol2010 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Choi 2006 | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
*, EPHPP: Effective Public Health Practice Project tool (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada); 1, original data was based on median (Q25–Q75), and we changed it into mean ± SD, according to the Cochrane handbook.
Results of meta-analysis
A total of 4,518 cases were selected from 17 studies, of which 1,013 were control subjects, 896 were mild OSAS subjects, 832 were moderate OSAS subjects and 1,588 were severe OSAS subjects. In terms of different hematological indices, we made eight subgroup meta-analyses. We analyzed WBC, lymphocyte, NLR, MPV, PDW, PLR, RDW and HCT of the mild, moderate and severe OSAS group versus control group respectively. Figures 2-4 were generated by Stata and the detail values were reconfirmed by Review Manager. Figures from Stata only provided WMDs and 95% CIs, therefore the P values of WMDs showed in the following results were provided by Review Manager (not showed in the figures).
Figure 2.
Forest plots of the relationship between inflammatory associated indices (WBC, LYM and NLR) and severity groups of OSAS versus control. OSAS, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; WBC, white blood cell; LYM, lymphocyte; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.
Figure 3.
Forest plots of the relationship between platelet associated indices (MPV, PDW and PLR) and severity groups of OSAS versus control. OSAS, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; MPV, mean platelet volume; PDW, platelet distribution width; PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio.
Figure 4.
Forest plots of the relationship between erythrocyte associated indices (RDW and HCT) and severity groups of OSAS versus control. OSAS, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; RDW, red cell distribution width; HCT, hematocrit.
WBC
A total of 2,206 subjects were enrolled from 11 studies (20,22,30,32-34,36-38,40,41), of which 421 were allocated to the mild OSAS group, 448 to the moderate OSAS group, 805 to the severe OSAS group and 532 to the control group. Mean WBC counts were 6.874, 7.159, 6.968 and 7.586 (×109/L) in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). Total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of WBC (WMD: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.85; P<0.0001). And increased WBC counts of severe OSAS (WMD =0.79, 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.23, P=0.0005) was little higher than the mild OSAS (WMD =0.52, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.94, P=0.01). All of them showed high heterogeneity: I2=87.3% and 78.4% respectively (Figure 2A).
Table S3. Detailed primary data of each hematological parameters.
| Group | Author/year | Control group | Mild OSAS group | Moderate OSAS group | Severe OSAS group | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | Mean | SD | N | Mean | SD | N | Mean | SD | N | Mean | SD | |||||
| WBC (109/L) | Altintas 2015 | 80 | 3.34 | 0.45 | 163 | 3.37 | 0.49 | 158 | 3.32 | 0.526 | 160 | 4.29 | 0.319 | |||
| Uygur 2016 | 118 | 6.1 | 1.3 | 57 | 6.7 | 1.2 | 53 | 7.2 | 1.4 | 61 | 7.8 | 1.5 | ||||
| Kanbay 2013 | 35 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 20 | 9.2 | 1.4 | 42 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 108 | 8.8 | 2.3 | ||||
| Korkmaz 2015 | 40 | 6.999 | 1.566 | 27 | 7.751 | 2.27 | 37 | 7.039 | 1.55 | 42 | 7.194 | 1.491 | ||||
| Kurt 2013 | 20 | 7.636 | 1.872 | 15 | 7.375 | 1.66 | 26 | 7.04 | 1.355 | 37 | 7.506 | 1.656 | ||||
| Sökücü 2014 | 30 | 7.08 | 1.37 | 38 | 7.27 | 1.97 | 41 | 7.83 | 1.79 | 91 | 7.89 | 1.99 | ||||
| Yenigun 2015 | 38 | 6.61 | 1.13 | 34 | 8.32 | 1.76 | 30 | 8.2 | 1.87 | 34 | 9.34 | 1.33 | ||||
| Song 2016 | 61 | 6.759 | 1.806 | 67 | 7.283 | 2.031 | 61 | 7.314 | 2.976 | 101 | 7.724 | 2.051 | ||||
| Choi 2006 | 61 | 5.7 | 1.8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 111 | 6.6 | 1.9 | ||||
| Varol 2010 | 24 | 8.6 | 2.2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 29 | 8.8 | 2.5 | ||||
| Varol 2011 | 25 | 8.2 | 1.5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | 7.5 | 1.6 | ||||
| Total or average | 532 | 6.874 | – | 421 | 7.159 | — | 448 | 6.968 | – | 805 | 7.586 | – | ||||
| LYM (109/L) | Uygur 2016 | 118 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 57 | 2 | 1.2 | 53 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 61 | 1.5 | 1.2 | |||
| Korkmaz 2015 | 40 | 2.309 | 0.6 | 27 | 2.488 | 0.598 | 37 | 2.448 | 0.587 | 42 | 2.52 | 0.641 | ||||
| Koseoglu 2015 | 57 | 2.98 | 0.68 | 93 | 2.68 | 0.65 | 82 | 2.61 | 0.72 | 192 | 2.28 | 0.68 | ||||
| Yenigun 2015 | 38 | 2.37 | 0.56 | 34 | 2.86 | 0.54 | 30 | 2.34 | 0.94 | 34 | 2.07 | 0.67 | ||||
| Song 2016 | 61 | 3.61 | 0.987 | 67 | 3.3 | 1.28 | 61 | 3 | 0.922 | 101 | 2.74 | 0.835 | ||||
| Total or average | 314 | 2.714 | – | 278 | 2.666 | – | 263 | 2.419 | – | 430 | 2.222 | – | ||||
| NLR | Altintas 2015 | 80 | 1.52 | 0.46 | 163 | 1.54 | 0.44 | 158 | 1.63 | 0.56 | 160 | 2.37 | 0.63 | |||
| Uygur 2016 | 118 | 1.81 | 0.5 | 57 | 2.39 | 0.6 | 53 | 3.34 | 0.9 | 61 | 4.18 | 1.1 | ||||
| Korkmaz 2015 | 40 | 1.8 | 0.64 | 27 | 1.78 | 0.57 | 37 | 1.57 | 0.54 | 42 | 1.61 | 0.56 | ||||
| Koseoglu 2015 | 48 | 2.017 | 0.85 | 67 | 1.97 | 1.25 | 61 | 1.87 | 0.66 | 108 | 1.85 | 0.64 | ||||
| Yenigun 2015 | 38 | 1.7 | 0.71 | 34 | 1.69 | 0.69 | 30 | 2.44 | 1.44 | 34 | 3.37 | 1.21 | ||||
| Total or average | 324 | 1.769 | – | 348 | 1.874 | – | 339 | 2.17 | – | 405 | 2.676 | – | ||||
| MPVfL | Uygur 2016 | 118 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 57 | 8.1 | 0.9 | 53 | 8 | 1.1 | 61 | 8.1 | 1 | |||
| Karakas 2013 | 31 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 30 | 8.3 | 1.2 | 32 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 31 | 8.6 | 1.1 | ||||
| Kurt 2013 | 20 | 8.2 | 1.1 | 15 | 8.5 | 1 | 26 | 8.3 | 1 | 37 | 8.2 | 0.9 | ||||
| Koseoglu 2015 | 57 | 6.64 | 0.54 | 93 | 7.26 | 0.7 | 82 | 7.58 | 0.9 | 192 | 9.8 | 5.04 | ||||
| Nena 2012 | 148 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 121 | 9.8 | 1.6 | 85 | 11.5 | 1.3 | 256 | 12.1 | 1.3 | ||||
| Sökücü 2014 | 30 | 9.21 | 0.75 | 38 | 9.36 | 0.94 | 41 | 9.33 | 0.72 | 91 | 9.37 | 1.02 | ||||
| Varol 2010 | 24 | 8.2 | 0.7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 29 | 8.9 | 1 | ||||
| Varol 2011 | 25 | 8.3 | 0.96 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | 8.5 | 0.59 | ||||
| Total or average | 453 | 8.256 | – | 354 | 8.553 | – | 319 | 8.851 | – | 728 | 9.196 | – | ||||
| PDW (%) | Uygur2016 | 118 | 13.4 | 0.6 | 57 | 14.1 | 1.7 | 53 | 13.9 | 1.4 | 61 | 14.5 | 1.9 | |||
| Kurt 2013 | 20 | 13.2 | 0.5 | 15 | 14.1 | 1.6 | 26 | 13.8 | 1.2 | 37 | 14.4 | 1.8 | ||||
| Koseoglu 2015 | 57 | 17.5 | 1.03 | 93 | 17.8 | 1.1 | 82 | 17.9 | 1.04 | 192 | 17.8 | 1.57 | ||||
| Nena 2012 | 148 | 13.2 | 2.2 | 121 | 14.1 | 2.8 | 85 | 15 | 2.2 | 256 | 15.9 | 2.2 | ||||
| Sokucu2014 | 30 | 15.71 | 2.12 | 38 | 16.19 | 2.34 | 41 | 15.67 | 1.91 | 91 | 15.84 | 2.88 | ||||
| Song 2016 | 61 | 15.9 | 1.12 | 67 | 16.3 | 0.95 | 61 | 16.4 | 0.99 | 101 | 16.5 | 0.82 | ||||
| Total or average | 434 | 14.818 | – | 391 | 15.431 | – | 348 | 15.445 | – | 738 | 15.823 | – | ||||
| PLR | Koseoglu 2015 | 57 | 87.38 | 22.9 | 93 | 95.07 | 31.3 | 82 | 97.01 | 29.1 | 192 | 126.9 | 39.4 | |||
| Koseoglu 2015 | 48 | 123.97 | 35.34 | 67 | 112.4 | 38.35 | 61 | 113.59 | 35.16 | 108 | 105.4 | 32.98 | ||||
| Song 2016 | 61 | 99.5 | 42.1 | 67 | 113.8 | 45.2 | 61 | 121.3 | 62.9 | 101 | 138.6 | 59.9 | ||||
| Total or average | 166 | 103.61 | – | 227 | 107.09 | – | 204 | 110.63 | – | 401 | 123.63 | – | ||||
| RDW (%) | Uygur 2016 | 118 | 13.1 | 1.1 | 57 | 13.2 | 0.9 | 53 | 13.9 | 1.6 | 61 | 14.5 | 1.9 | |||
| Kurt 2013 | 20 | 16.5 | 0.4 | 15 | 16.6 | 0.7 | 26 | 16.6 | 0.6 | 37 | 16.8 | 0.6 | ||||
| Koseoglu 2015 | 57 | 15.7 | 1.07 | 93 | 15.9 | 1.54 | 82 | 15.7 | 1.13 | 192 | 16.3 | 1.8 | ||||
| Sunnetcioglu 2017 | 197 | 13.5 | 1.3 | 149 | 13.8 | 1.4 | 98 | 13.9 | 1.7 | 156 | 15.7 | 7.1 | ||||
| Song 2016 | 61 | 13.5 | 1.57 | 67 | 13.3 | 1.25 | 61 | 13.5 | 1.05 | 101 | 13.3 | 0.76 | ||||
| Total or average | 453 | 14.46 | – | 381 | 14.56 | – | 320 | 14.72 | – | 547 | 15.32 | – | ||||
| HCT (%) | Sökücü 2014 | 30 | 43.76 | 4.24 | 38 | 44.93 | 3.89 | 41 | 44.29 | 7.27 | 91 | 44.91 | 5.87 | |||
| Song 2016 | 61 | 40.2 | 4.4 | 67 | 41.2 | 4.2 | 61 | 40.2 | 6.6 | 101 | 42.5 | 4.5 | ||||
| Choi 2006 | 61 | 39.8 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 111 | 43.5 | 3.6 | ||||
| Total or average | 152 | 41.25 | – | 105 | 43.07 | – | 102 | 42.25 | – | 303 | 43.64 | – | ||||
WBC, white blood cell; LYM, lymphocyte; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; HCT, hematocrit; RDW, red cell distribution width; MPV, mean platelet volume; PDW, platelet distribution width.
LYM
A total of 1,285 subjects were included from 5 studies (30-32,37,40), of which 278 were enrolled in the mild OSAS group, 263 to the moderate OSAS group, 430 to the severe OSAS group and 314 to the control group. Mean lymphocyte counts were 2.714, 2.666, 2.419 and 2.222 (×109/L) in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS group (Table S3). Total pooled analysis result suggested that OSAS was associated with a lower level of LYM (WMD: −0.27; 95% CI: −0.49 to −0.06; P=0.01). And lymphocyte counts gradually decreased with regard of OSAS severity and it was statistically significant until it developed to severe OSAS (WMD =−0.49, 95% CI: −0.88 to −0.09, P=0.02). But a considerable heterogeneity was observed among the severe OSAS groups (I2=90.2%, P=0.000) (Figure 2B).
NLR
A total of 1,416 subjects were selected from 5 studies (30-32,36,37), of which 348 were assigned to the mild OSAS group, 339 to the moderate OSAS group, 405 to the severe OSAS group and 324 to the control group. Mean neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios were 1.769, 1.874, 2.17 and 2.676 in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). Total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of NLR (WMD: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.80; P=0.007). And there was a gradual rising trend from mild OSAS to severe OSAS which ultimately significant increased (WMD =0.90, 95% CI: 0.04 to 1.76, P=0.04) but was with significant heterogeneity (I2=98.3%, P=0.000) (Figure 2C).
MPV
A total of 1,854 patients were included from 8 studies (19,20,31,32,35,38-40), of which 354 were recruited in the mild OSAS group, 319 to the moderate OSAS group, 728 to the severe OSAS group and 453 to the control group. The average volumes of mean platelet volumes were 8.256, 8.553, 8.851 and 9.196 fL in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). Total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of MPV (WMD: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.98; P=0.0004). And we could observe a gradual increasing trend with the development of OSAS severity. The severe OSAS group (WMD =0.93, 95% CI: 0.13 to 1.72, P=0.02) increased more than mild OSAS (WMD =0.30, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.55, P=0.02) and moderate OSAS groups (WMD =0.61, 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.15, P=0.03). However, the moderate (I2=92.2%, P=0.000) and severe OSAS groups (I2=96.8%, P=0.000) had remarkable heterogeneity while mild OSAS group had moderate heterogeneity (I2=62.1%, P=0.022) (Figure 3A).
PDW
A total of 1,911 subjects were enrolled from 6 studies (19,30-32,40,41), of which 391 were allocated to the mild OSAS group, 348 to the moderate OSAS group, 738 to the severe OSAS group and 434 to the control group. Mean platelet distribution widths were 14.818%, 15.431%, 15.445% and 15.823% in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). Total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of PDW (WMD: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.06; P<0.00001). And the evaluated PDW of severe OSAS (WMD =1.02, 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.79, P=0.008) was much higher than the moderate OSAS (WMD =0.64, 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.03, P=0.001) and mild OSAS group (WMD =0.51, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.70, P<0.00001). However, the moderate (I2=74.4%, P=0.002) and severe OSAS groups (I2=93.8%, P=0.000) had remarkable heterogeneity while mild OSAS group didn’t have heterogeneity (I2=0%, P=0.439) (Figure 3B).
PLR
A total of 998 subjects were selected from 3 studies (28,30,31), of which 227 were recruited in the mild OSAS group, 204 to the moderate OSAS group, 401 to the severe OSAS group and 166 to the control group. In this subgroup, we first enrolled all eligible studies into meta-analysis but the results showed a significant heterogeneity, but when we excluded Koseoglu (28), there were no heterogeneity among mild and severe OSAS group and low heterogeneity among moderate OSAS group (details in Table S3). The mean platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios of final included studies were 103.61, 107.09, 110.63 and 123.63 in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). The final total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of PLR (WMD: 21.76; 95% CI: 8.54 to 34.99; P=0.001). And there was a gradual rising trend from mild OSAS (WMD =9.34, 95% CI: 1.79 to 16.88, P=0.02), moderate OSAS (WMD =12.66, 95% CI: 2.35 to 22.97, P=0.02) to severe OSAS (WMD =39.43, 95% CI: 32.19 to 46.67, P<0.00001). And moderate OSAS group (I2=23.4%, P=0.253) had low heterogeneity while mild and moderate OSAS group didn’t have heterogeneity (I2=0.0%) (Figure 3C).
RDW
A total of 1,701 subjects were enrolled from 5 studies (29-32,40), of which 381 were allocated to the mild OSAS group, 320 to the moderate OSAS group, 547 to the severe OSAS group and 453 to the control group. Mean RDWs were 14.46%, 14.56%, 14.72% and 15.32% in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). The total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of RDW (WMD: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.51; P=0.002). And there was a gradual rising trend from mild OSAS (WMD =0.14, 95% CI: −0.02 to 0.31, P=0.08) to severe OSAS which ultimately significant increased (WMD =0.72, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.29, P=0.01) but was with considerable heterogeneity (I2=88.0%, P=0.000) (Figure 4A).
HCT
A total of 662 subjects were included from 3 studies (22,30,35), of whom 105 were assigned to the mild OSAS group, 102 to the moderate OSAS group, 303 to the severe OSAS group and 152 to the control group. Mean hematocrits were 41.25%, 43.07%, 42.25% and 43.64% in control, mild, moderate and severe OSAS groups (Table S3). The total pooled analysis result showed that OSAS was associated with a higher level of HCT (WMD: 1.58; 95% CI: 0.52 to 2.64; P=0.003). And the values of HCT evaluated and reached a statistical significant increase until it was severe in OSAS group (WMD =2.53, 95% CI: 1.12 to 3.94, P=0.0004). Nevertheless, we could observe a moderate heterogeneity in severe OSAS group (I2=62.9%, P=0.068) (Figure 4B).
Other subgroups
When we took the comorbidities of CVD into consideration, we divided the OSAS patients into two subgroups: OSAS subjects without CVD or with/without CVD, according to the inclusion criteria of each eligible study (details in the Table 1). Hematological parameters (WBC, MPV and PDW) still revealed a developed trend in OSAS subjects without CVD and indices (LYM, NLR, MPV, PDW) in OSAS subjects with/without CVD. It was noteworthy that the overall pooled analyses of neutrophil and PLR subgroups showed no significant increase or decrease just because they exhibited an opposite trend in OSAS subjects without CVD or with/without CVD. Subgroup of RDW and HCT only available in OSAS subjects with/without CVD (details in Table S4).
Table S4. Random-effects pooled WMD for association between Hematological Parameters and severity of OSAS.
| Subgroup | Severity | OSAS subjects without CVD | OSAS subjects with/without CVD | All OSAS subjects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBC | Mild OSAS | 0.80 [−0.36, 1.96] (P=0.18); I2=92% (P<0.00001) | 0.48 [0.20, 0.77] (P =0.0008); I2=0% (P=0.65) | 0.52 [0.10, 0.94] (P=0.01); I2=78% (P<0.0001) |
| Moderate OSAS | 0.49 [−0.40, 1.37] (P=0.28); I2=88% (P=0.0002) | 0.24 [−0.54, 1.03] (P=0.54); I2=83% (P=0.0001) | 0.35 [−0.16, 0.86] (P=0.18); I2=86% (P<0.00001) | |
| Severe OSAS | 1.29 [0.12, 2.47] (P=0.03); I2=95% (P<0.00001) | 0.56 [0.00, 1.12] (P=0.05); I2=81% (P<0.00001) | 0.79 [0.35, 1.23] (P=0.0005); I2=87% (P<0.00001) | |
| Neutrophil | Mild OSAS | 0.04 [−0.07, 0.15] (P=0.50); I2=0% (P=0.35) | 0.78 [0.52, 1.03] (P<0.00001); I2=0% (P=0.50) | 0.54 [0.09, 1.00] (P=0.02); I2=87% (P<0.00001) |
| Moderate OSAS | −0.10 [−0.21, 0.01] (P=0.09); I2=0% (P=0.57) | 1.00 [−0.02, 2.01] (P=0.05); I2=94% (P<0.00001) | 0.53 [−0.30, 1.35] (P=0.21); I2=97% (P<0.00001) | |
| Severe OSAS | −0.30 [−0.40, −0.20]; (P<0.00001) I2=0% (P=0.44) | 1.93 [0.43, 3.42] (P=0.01); I2=95% (P<0.00001) | 1.03 [−0.04, 2.11] (P=0.06); I2=98% (P<0.00001) | |
| Lymphocyte | Mild OSAS | 0.34 [0.04, 0.65] (P=0.03); I2=60% (P=0.12) | −0.30 [−0.47, −0.13] (P=0.0006); I2=0% (P=1.00) | −0.04 [−0.38, 0.31] (P=0.84); I2=85% (P<0.0001) |
| Moderate OSAS | 0.08 [−0.13, 0.30] (P=0.45); I2=0% (P=0.48) | −0.47 [−0.65, −0.30] (P<0.00001); I2=0% (P=0.43) | −0.28 [−0.58, 0.02] (P=0.06) I2=77% (P=0.002) | |
| Severe OSAS | −0.04 [−0.54, 0.46] (P=0.87) I2=85% (P=0.01) | −0.76 [−0.91, −0.61] (P<0.00001) I2=0% (P=0.63) | −0.49 [−0.88, −0.09] (P=0.02); I2=90% (P<0.00001) | |
| NLR | Mild OSAS | 0.01 [−0.10, 0.12] (P=0.87); I2=0% (P=0.93) | 0.30 [−0.28, 0.88] (P=0.31); I2=90% (P=0.002) | 0.12 [−0.16, 0.40] (P=0.40); I2=86% (P<0.00001) |
| Moderate OSAS | −0.06 [−0.30, 0.17] (P=0.59); I2=69% (P=0.04) | 1.18 [0.41, 1.95] (P=0.003); I2=84% (P=0.01) | 0.39 [−0.23, 1.02] (P=0.22); I2=97% (P<0.00001) | |
| Severe OSAS | 0.17 [−0.60, 0.94] (P=0.66); I2=97% (P<0.00001) | 2.04 [1.36, 2.73] (P<0.00001); I2=84% (P=0.01) | 0.90 [0.04, 1.76] (P=0.04); I2=98% (P<0.00001) | |
| MPV | Mild OSAS | 0.21 [−0.28, 0.69] (P=0.40); I2=59% (P=0.12) | 0.35 [0.07, 0.63] (P=0.01); I2=60% (P =0.06) | 0.30 [0.06, 0.55] (P=0.02); I2=62% (P=0.02) |
| Moderate OSAS | 1.17 [0.10, 2.25] (P=0.03); I2=91% (P=0.0008) | 0.34 [−0.17, 0.85] (P=0.19); I2=83% (P<0.0001) | 0.61 [0.07, 1.15] (P=0.03); I2=92% (P<0.00001) | |
| Severe OSAS | 1.57 [0.10, 3.04] (P=0.04); I2=96% (P<0.00001) | 0.69 [0.05, 1.33] (P=0.04); I2=92% (P<0.00001) | 0.93 [0.13, 1.72] (P=0.02); I2=97% (P<0.00001) | |
| PDW | Mild OSAS | 0.90 [0.29, 1.51] (P=0.004) | 0.46 [0.25, 0.67] (P<0.0001); I2=0% (P=0.55) | 0.51[0.31, 0.70] (P<0.00001); I2=0% (P=0.44) |
| Moderate OSAS | 1.80 [1.21, 2.39] (P<0.00001) | 0.46 [0.27, 0.66] (P<0.00001); I2=0% (P=0.82) | 0.64 [0.26, 1.03] (P=0.001); I2=74% (P =0.02) | |
| Severe OSAS | 2.70 [2.25, 3.15] (P<0.00001) | 0.68 [0.32, 1.05] (P=0.0002); I2=65% (P=0.02) | 1.02 [0.26, 1.79] (P=0.008); I2=94% (P<0.00001) | |
| PLR | Mild OSAS | −11.57 [−25.14, 2.00] (P=0.09) | 9.34 [1.79, 16.88] (P=0.02); I2=0% (P=0.46) | 3.53 [−10.25, 17.31] (P=0.62); I2=73% (P=0.02) |
| Moderate OSAS | −10.38 [−23.71, 2.95] (P=0.13) | 12.66 [2.35, 22.97] (P=0.02); I2=23% (P=0.25) | 6.21 [−10.08, 22.49] (P=0.46); I2=78% (P=0.01) | |
| Severe OSAS | −18.57 [−30.34, −6.80] (P=0.002) | 39.43 [32.19, 46.67] (P<0.00001); I2=0% (P=0.96) | 19.97 [−18.77, 58.71] (P=0.31); I2=97% (P<0.00001) | |
| RDW | Mild OSAS | – | 0.14 [−0.02, 0.31] (P=0.08); I2=0 (P=0.53) | – |
| Moderate OSAS | – | 0.24 [−0.03, 0.51] (P=0.08); I2=58 (P=0.05) | – | |
| Severe OSAS | – | 0.72 [0.15, 1.29] (P=0.01); I2=88% (P<0.00001) | – | |
| HCT | Mild OSAS | – | 1.06 [−0.12, 2.25] (P=0.08); I2=0% (P=0.89) | – |
| Moderate OSAS | – | 0.19 [−1.41, 1.79] (P=0.82); I2=0% (P=0.76) | – | |
| Severe OSAS | – | 2.53 [1.12, 3.94] (P=0.0004); I2=63% (P=0.07) | – |
OSAS, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; WBC, white blood cell; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; MPV, mean platelet volume; PDW, platelet distribution width; PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; RDW, red cell distribution width; HCT, hematocrit.
Sensitivity analysis
Although all the subgroups showed a moderate or significant heterogeneity, the sensitivity analyses couldn’t found out the source of heterogeneity excepted the PLR subgroup.
Publication bias
We summarized the P values of Egger’s test and Begg’s test of each subgroup into a publication bias table (Table S5). And all the results suggested that there were no evidence of publication bias (P>0.05).
Table S5. Publication bias of each subgroup using Stata SE12.0.
| Subgroup | Included studies | Begg’s test | Egger’s test |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBC | 11 | 0.081 | 0.082 |
| Lymphocyte | 5 | 0.480 | 0.589 |
| NLR | 5 | 0.322 | 0.883 |
| MPV | 8 | 0.651 | 0.121 |
| PDW | 6 | 0.129 | 0.079 |
| PLR | 3 | 1.000 | 0.820 |
| RDW | 5 | 0.480 | 0.592 |
| HCT | 3 | 0.296 | 0.217 |
All studies were without publication bias (P>0.05). WBC, white blood cell; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; MPV, mean platelet volume; PDW, platelet distribution width; PLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; RDW, red cell distribution width; HCT, hematocrit.
Discussion
OSAS is characterized by recurrent obstruction of partial or total upper airway during sleep, causing more than ten seconds of breathing (apnea) cessation, despite ongoing respiratory effort. Our results showed that there was a positive correlation between the levels of hematological indices and the severity of OSAS including WBC, LYM, NLR, MPV, PDW, PLR, RDW and HCT. That meant the higher the AHI, the higher the levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to analyze the association between hematological parameters and the OSAS severity.
Clinical implication
We proposed the hematological indices (WBC, LYM, NLR, MPV, PDW, PLR, RDW and HCT) could be alternative markers to evaluate the inflammation in OSAS patients, which was useful to assess the severity of OSAS. Moreover, the elevated hematological parameters could assist in timely identification of high-risk OSAS patients and alert clinicians to the potential increased risk of CVDs in them. As compare with the present biochemical markers used clinically, such as IL6 and C-reactive protein, hematological parameters were comparatively cheap, readily-measurable, easy and practical laboratory markers, especially in developing countries. Besides, blood routine examination is used more frequently than disease-specific biochemical markers in primary hospital.
Possible mechanisms
OSAS is a chronic disease which can lead to various comorbidities in subject with the degree of OSAS severity, including pulmonary disease, endocrine dysfunction, and cognitive impairment (42-44). And CVD occupies a large part among the comorbidities (4-6). Newman et al. (45), Lattanzi et al. (46,47) and Javaheri et al. (48) found that patients with OSAS had an increased risk of CVDs and suggested that OSAS was a major risk factor for CVDs. For example, the autonomic and neurohumoral abnormalities perpetuated beyond the offending obstructive events and persisted into the daytime, resulting in a disturbance of the overall circadian blood pressure rhythm and an increase in short- and long-term blood pressure variability (46,47,49). The high absolute blood pressure levels but even their fluctuations were related to development and progression of organ damage by promoting arterial remodelling, microvascular damage, hemodynamic instability, and vascular reactivity impairment (50-53).
The relationship between OSAS and accompanying changes of hematological parameters is complicated. Three main mechanisms may be implicated as follow.
First, acute and chronic hypoxia may be associated with the changes of MPV, PDW, HCT. Nena et al. (19) found that MPV and PDW were negative related to average SpO2 and minimum SpO2 and implied that hypoxia could activate platelet function. And Rahangdale et al. (54) demonstrated that high level of oxygen desaturation was linked with higher platelet surface adhesion molecules, activated glycoprotein receptor expression, platelet-monocyte aggregation and platelet-neutrophil aggregation. Moreover, a fundamental research demonstrated chronic intermittent hypoxia increases platelet reactivity directly in rats (55). As to the parameters of red blood cell, Hematocrit is more closely tied to hypoxia. It is well known that hypoxemic state is interrelated with high hematocrit levels, as oxyhemoglobin desaturation can stimulate erythropoiesis, leading to increased hematocrit. Svatikova et al. (56) reported that ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) was increased overnight in those untreated OSAS patients, and ANP levels decreased with CPAP treatment. It indicated that hemoconcentration might lead to increased hematocrit.
Second mechanism appears to be sympathetic overactivity. It results in many pathophysiological changes such as episodic hypoxemia, recurrent arousals and increased inspiratory effort. OSAS patients exhibited high levels of sympathetic nerve activity even when they were fully awake, which contributed to platelet activation and CVDs (57). Larsson et al. (58) suggested that platelet aggregability was increased by high levels of circulating catecholamine in vivo. Therefore, hematological indices associated with platelet activation (MPV, PDW, PLR) might change in OSAS patients caused by catecholamine discharge. On the other hand, the continuous high level of catecholamine contributes to hypertension, endothelial dysfunction and organ damage. And CVDs have a close relation with hematological parameters. For example, RDW has been found to be negative associated with the outcomes of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and many other CVDs. Also, previous studies showed that there was a significant correlation between the RDW values and the AHI (23,35).
The third mechanism is chronic inflammation. The importance of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of OSAS has been strongly supported by a great number of studies (12). Moreover, Yokoe et al. (59) demonstrated that elevated inflammatory markers in OSAS patients significantly decreased after CPAP treatment (17). Some fundamental researches declared that Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a master transcription factor regulated the downstream inflammatory gene expression, was found to be selective activated by hypoxia and reoxygenation (60). NF-κB activity also resulted in an increased number of circulating neutrophils and monocytes. And the apoptosis of neutrophils was dysregulated in the process of OSAS (61). Both lead to the elevated level of neutrophil in peripheral blood of OSAS patients. As for lymphocyte, OSAS patients combined with CVDs were found to have a lower lymphocyte levels compared to those without CVDs, which could be due to the uncontrolled inflammatory pathway (62). Moreover, some researchers demonstrated that lower lymphocyte counts were related to activation of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal (THA) axis, increase production of systemic cortisol levels and altered sleeping habits (63). The NLR, a novel marker of systemic inflammation, was associated with many chronic diseases, also could be an indicator used to predict CVDs in OSAS patients (32). On the other hand, many pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL6, could significantly promote the production and activation of platelet, which contributed to the changes of those hematological parameters including PLR, MPV and PDW (64).
In summary, derangements including acute/chronic hypoxia, sympathetic overactivity, chronic systematic inflammation and even neurohumoral abnormalities interacted with each other synergistically rather than independently in the development of severity and complication of OSAS.
Limitation
Several limitations of our meta-analysis might be outlined as follows. First, all the eligible studies were retrospective studies and used observational data, which made it difficult to identify the causal relationship between hematological parameters and OSAS severity for possible residual confounding from unmeasured variables might exist. Second, although all the blood samples from different patients during data-gathering process were detected timely, it couldn’t be guaranteed that the process was performed with identical methods at different times. And some minute differences still existed in several studies. For example, Sökücü et al. (35) used automatic analyzers instead of manual microscopic counting used by Nena et al. (19). Third, all hematological indices were performed with just one single measurement. Therefore, it was unsure whether the positive correlation was continuous or temporal. Fourth, although some hematological indices were considered as inflammatory markers, such as NLR and PLR, it was supposed to use classical established inflammatory markers like IL6 as a reference for comparison during detection process (12,13,21). Fifth, the exclusion criteria in the subgroup of OSAS subjects without CVD was mainly dependent on the past medical history and physical examination, which making possible coexistence of asymptomatic cardiovascular diseases. And only some studies excluded the influence of recent medication history of antiplatelet drugs (such as aspirin) when detecting MPV, PDW and PLR. Sixth, all eligible studies were preliminary researches without further fundamental mechanism research. And the cut-off point of hematological indices values determining an individual’s OSAS severity risk was unclear which needed further detailed study. Seventh, another two studies (ineligible studies) already declared the HCT and NLR were decreased after CPAP therapy in OSAS patients (65,66). But since the small sample size, further prospective study with adequate large sample size was desirable. At last, Heterogeneity in our meta-analysis was comparatively significant. But the sensitivity analyses couldn’t found out the source of heterogeneity except the PLR subgroup. And although we changed median (Q25–Q75) into mean ± SD following the Cochrane handbook, it still might cause bias.
Suggestions for future
However, because all eligible studies were preliminary researches, the result of our meta-analysis was considered as a proposal. Further prospective studies are warranted to implement the finding to evaluate the prognostic outcomes of OSAS patients with elevated hematological indices, the practical utility in improving cardiovascular outcomes and monitoring the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
Therefore, we make four suggestions for further research. First, more research data in this field from different countries are needed for the present studies are mainly from Turkey. Second, it is supposed to use classical established inflammatory markers like IL6 as a reference for comparison during detection process. Third, the cut-off point of hematological indices values determining an individual’s OSAS severity risk need further detailed study. Researchers may use receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the cut-off value of hematological indices when used to predict the severity or complication of OSAS, because ROC analysis could provide sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy for all tests respectively. Fourth, further prospective studies with adequate large sample size are warrant, which might focus on the change of hematological parameters in OSAS patients before and after medical or surgical treatment.
Conclusions
Hematological indices are comparatively simple, inexpensive and practical severity markers of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome including WBC, LYM, NLR, MPV, PDW, PLR, RDW and HCT. But further prospective studies are warranted to substantiate our findings.
Acknowledgements
None.
Footnotes
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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