Volumetric analysis of the hypothalamic subunits in obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder that is associated

with structural brain damage and cognitive impairment. The hypothalamus plays

a crucial role in regulating sleep and wakefulness.We aimed to evaluate hypothalamic

subunit volumes in patients with OSA.

Methods: We enrolled 30 participants (15 patients with OSA and 15 healthy controls

(HC)). Patients with OSA underwent complete overnight polysomnography (PSG)

examination. All the participants underwent MRI. The hypothalamic subunit volumes

were calculated using a segmentation technique that trained a3Dconvolutional neural

network.

Results: Although hypothalamus subunit volumes were comparable between the HC

and OSA groups (lowest p = .395), significant negative correlations were found in OSA

patients between BMI and whole left hypothalamus volume (R = –0.654, p = .008),

as well as between BMI and left posterior volume (R = –0.556, p = .032). Furthermore,

significant positive correlations were found between ESS and right anterior

inferior volume (R = 0.548, p = .042), minimum SpO2 and the whole left hypothalamus

(R = 0.551, p = .033), left tubular inferior volumes (R = 0.596, p = .019), and between

the percentage of REM stage and left anterior inferior volume (R = 0.584, p = .022).

Conclusions: While there were no notable differences in the hypothalamic subunit

volumes between the OSA and HC groups, several important correlations were identified

in the OSA group. These relationships suggest that factors related to sleep apnea

severity could affect hypothalamic structure in patients.

KEYWORDS

hypothalamus,MRI, obstructive sleep apnea, polysomnography, volumetry

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