system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Aged, Endothelial Cells, Endothelium, Vascular, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polysomnography, Sleep Apnea Syndromes, Vasodilation.
user
Does flow-mediated dilatation identify impaired endothelial function in patients with sleep apnea syndrome? Context: Non-invasive detection of vascular dysfunction in the early stage is clinically important in patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) is a novel clinical marker of endothelial function. However, it is not clear whether this is useful in the SAS patient. Echocardiographic parameters and FMD were measured in 129 patients with SAS. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was defined by polygraphy, and patients were divided into the two Groups: Group A (moderate-severe SAS: AHI≥ 15 times/hr, n=93) and Group B (mild SAS: AHI 5-15 times/hr, n=36). There were no significant differences in echocardiographic parameters between the two groups. However, FMD was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (3.5±1.6 vs. 7.8±3.1, P< 0.01).
assistant
Although cardiac function was not different, vascular dysfunction was evident in patients with moderate-severe SAS. FMD is a useful tool to identify impaired endothelial function non-invasively in patients with SAS. Final Decision: yes