Table 1 Baseline clinical characteristics according to Berlin questionnaire

 Age (yr)

48.20 ± 17.34

51.80 ± 13.54

0.185

 Female, n (%)

7 (44 %)

4 (7 %)

<0.001

 BMI (kg/m² )

23.82 ± 3.36

28.78 ± 7.41

<0.001

 Neck circumference (cm)

38.32 ± 2.77

42.20 ± 3.67

<0.001

 Smoking status, n (%)

3 (19 %)

38 (67 %)

<0.001

 Alcohol, n (%)

2 (12 %)

23 (41 %)

<0.001

 Hypertension, n (%)

3 (18 %)

29 (53 %)

<0.001

 Diabetes mellitus, n (%)

2 (13 %)

12 (22 %)

0.025 (<0.05)

 Coronary artery disease, n (%)

4 (25 %)

8 (14 %)

0.135

 Hyperlipidemia, n (%)

7 (44 %)

25 (45 %)

0.897

 SA block or sinus arrest, n (%)

8 (50 %)

32 (57 %)

0.618

 Complete AV block, n (%)

7 (44 %)

21 (38 %)

0.657

 Combined forms of heart block, n (%)

1 (6 %)

3 (5 %)

0.893

 Platelet aggregation inhibitors, n (%)

1 (6 %)

7 (13 %)

0.490

 Diuretic therapy, n (%)

3 (19 %)

18 (32 %)

0.305

 ACE inhibitors/ARBs, n (%)

2 (12 %)

19 (34 %)

0.125

 Statin therapy, n (%)

2 (12 %)

15 (27 %)

0.241

 Syncope, n (%)

1 (6 %)

7 (13 %)

0.490

 Palpitations, n (%)

2 (12 %)

12 (21 %)

0.433

 Chest pain, n (%)

1 (6 %)

4 (7 %)

0.903

 Snoring, n (%)

10 (63 %)

48 (86 %)

0.039 (<0.05)

 Daytime sleepiness, n (%)

8 (50 %)

28 (57 %)

0.618

ESS score

7.07 ± 5.39

11.34 ± 6.19

<0.001

 RR interval (>2 s, events/h)

17.14 ± 26.30

196.06 ± 470.05

0.137

 Longest RR (>2 s, second)

2.71 ± 0.86

3.56 ± 2.02

0.163

 Obstructive and mixed apneas, n (%)

0 (0 %)

1 (2 %)

0.597

 Obstructive apneas, n (%)

11 (69 %)

49 (88 %)

0.022 (<0.05)

 Central apneas, n (%)

1 (6 %)

1 (2 %)

0.345

 AHI (events/h)

12.94 ± 7.08

41.3 ± 17.85

<0.001

 Mean SaO₂ (%)

96.14 ± 0.89

91.76 ± 3.90

0.008 (<0.01)

 Oxygen saturation nadir (%)

89 ± 5

86 ± 16

0.133