ABSTRACT
We retrospectively evaluated data from 213 consecutive patients; 152 were affected
by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 29 had OSA associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), also known as overlap syndrome, and 32 had COPD. Patients with obesity-hypoventilation
syndrome were not included. The aims of the study were to evaluate the anthropometric,
pulmonary, and polysomnographic characteristics of patients affected by overlap syndrome
compared to ``simple'' OSA and to COPD subjects and to analyze the determinants of
hypercapnia in overlap syndrome. In the comparison between overlap and OSA patients,
the overlap group had a significantly higher PaCO2 (44.59 vs. 39.22 mm Hg; p < 0.01), in the presence of a similar AHI (40.46 vs. 41.59/h).
Comparing overlap to COPD patients, overlap showed a significantly higher PaCO2 value (44.59 vs. 39.63 mm Hg; p < 0.005) and had significantly less severe obstructive
impairment (FEV 162.93 vs. 47.31%; FEV1/FVC ratio 66.71 vs. 59.25%; p < 0.005). Anthropometric, pulmonary function, and polysomnographic
data did not differ between normo- and hypercapnic overlap patients. The best model
(stepwise multiple regression analysis) for predicting PaCO2 in overlap patients showed r2 value 0.65: PaO2 contributed to 38%, FEV1 to 15%, and weight to 12%. In conclusion, the occurrence of hypercapnia in overlap
patients is only partially explained by the combination of overweight and reduced
respiratory function, supporting the hypothesis of a multifactorial genesis.
KEYWORD
COPD - obesity hypoventilation - obstructive sleep apnea - overlap syndrome