Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Key Contributor to Mental Stress-Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Female Angina Patients with No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Purpose

Mental stress induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) is regarded as the primary cause of the angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is autonomously linked to obstructive coronary heart disease, hypertension, and sudden cardiac death. Similar to the impact of psychological stress on the cardiovascular system, individuals with OSA experience periodic nocturnal hypoxia, resulting in the activation of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and sympathetic hyperactivity. The contribution of OSA to MSIMI in ANOCA patients is unclear. To explore the prevalence of OSA in ANOCA patients and the correlation between OSA and MSIMI, a prospective cohort of female ANOCA patients was recruited.

Patients and Methods

We recruited female patients aged 18 to 75 years old with ANOCA and evaluated MSIMI using positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Subsequently, Level III portable monitors was performed to compare the relationship between OSA and MSIMI.

Results

There is higher REI (7.8 vs 2.6, P=0.019), ODI (4.7 vs 9.2, P=0.028) and percentage of OSA (67.74% vs 33.33%, P=0.004) in MSIMI patients. The patients diagnosed with OSA demonstrated higher myocardial perfusion imaging scores (SSS: 1.5 vs 3, P = 0.005, SDS: 1 vs 3, P = 0.007). Adjusted covariates, the risk of developing MSIMI remained 3.6 times higher in OSA patients (β=1.226, OR = 3.408 (1.200–9.681), P = 0.021).

Conclusion

Patients with MSIMI exhibit a greater prevalence of OSA. Furthermore, the myocardial blood flow perfusion in patients with OSA is reduced during mental stress.

Keywords:

• obstructive sleep apnea
• mental stress induced myocardial ischemia
• angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease
• myocardial perfusion imaging

Data Sharing Statement

All data will be shared upon reasonable request to the corresponding authors.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical approval was given by the medical ethics committee of Guangdong General Hospital with the following reference number: No. 2019-298H-5. All participants gave written informed consent.

Clinical Trial Registration

Trial name: Effect of Mental Stress on Myocardial Perfusion in Women (MS in women); ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03982901, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03982901.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation, or all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the High-level Hospital Construction Project of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (DFJH201811, DFJH201922, DFJH2020029), Guangdong Province Medical Science and Technology Research Fund Project (No. B202314) and the grants from Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No.2021A1515011118, 2021A1515011781).