Abstract Details

Title Obstructive Sleep Apnea Predicts Increased Brain Atrophy in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Independent of Obesity

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 6-014

Background Recent studies found that patients with MS and OSA had higher body mass index (BMI), more brainstem lesions, and more brain atrophy than patients with MS without OSA. It is currently unknown whether OSA can develop due to MS disease activity alone or if it stems from other established factors like obesity.

Objective To determine if obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) predicts multiple sclerosis (MS) disease burden independent of obesity, a known risk factor for both OSA and for MS-associated brain atrophy.

Design/Methods We collected whole brain volumes (WBV), gray matter volumes (GMV), and WBV and GMV age-normalized percentiles from the MRIs of patients with both MS and OSA. To control for obesity, we categorized patients into two groups: MS and OSA with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) and MS and OSA without obesity (BMI < 30). We utilized multivariable linear regression to assess differences in brain atrophy in these two groups.

Results We identified 39 patients for inclusion in this study: 26 patients with OSA and obesity and 13 patients with OSA without obesity. By multivariable linear regression, we found that non-obese OSA patients had lower WBV (P = 0.027), GMV (P = 0.039), WBV% (P = 0.029), and GMV% (P = 0.048) than obese OSA patients, controlling for MS disease duration, blood pressure, tobacco use, and older age, all risk factors for brain atrophy.

Conclusions OSA is associated with greater brain atrophy independent of obesity in patients with MS.

Authors/Disclosures
Alexandra R. Balshi PRESENTER	Ms. Balshi has nothing to disclose.
John Dempsey, BA (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)	No disclosure on file
Jacob A. Sloane, MD, PhD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)	Dr. Sloane has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for biogen. Dr. Sloane has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech. Dr. Sloane has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi.